Islamabad - A petition seeking disqualification of Federal Minister for Finance Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar as Member of Upper House of the Parliament was moved in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) here on Thursday.
A journalist Farrukh Nawaz Bhatti moved the court through his counsel G. M. Chaudhry Advocate and sought disqualification of Finance Minister Senator Ishaq through a writ of quo warranto under Article 199 of the Constitution of Pakistan.
The petitioner cited the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) through Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of Pakistan, Director General (DG) Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Minister for Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar as respondents in the petition.
Bhatti adopted in his petition that Ishaq Dar had submitted a confessional affidavit before an Accountability Court (AC) wherein he had confessed of committing acts amounting to money laundering as well as other financial irregularity. The petition said that such a person, who himself had confessed his guilt through an affidavit which is in any case final on his behalf irrespective final decision of the matter. Money laundering is also amounted to conflict of interest as such person cannot be entrusted functions like Finance Minister.
Therefore, he prayed before the court to set aside the notifications regarding election of Ishaq Dar as the member of Senate of Pakistan, as well as his appointment as the federal minister, adding that he is not qualified for membership of the Senate as well as to hold the office of the federal minister in consequence under Article 62 of the Constitution.
He requested the court to direct the ECP to issue disqualification notification of Ishaq Dar as he is not qualified under Article 62 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to hold the said office. The petitioner pleaded that the directions be issued to DG FIA to initiate proceedings against Dar about his confession regarding money laundering under the relevant laws.
Farrukh further prayed before the court to direct Chairman NAB to initiate investigations against Ishaq Dar regarding accumulation of exorbitant wealth after his confession before a competent court of law regarding money laundering while ascertaining his sources of income and accumulation of such wealth.
He urged the court that direction should be issued to the finance minister to refund all sums received in terms of salary/remuneration, allowances and other perks and privileges and Dar be restrained from performing his official and legislative functions as Senator and the Federal Minister till the pendency of the petition before the court.
The petitioner contended that Dar’s confession is direct conflict with paragraphs (d), (e) and (f) of clause (1) of Article 62 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan which reads that he is of good character and is not commonly known as one who violates Islamic Injunctions; he has adequate knowledge of Islamic teachings and practices obligatory duties prescribed by Islam as well as abstains from major sins; he is sagacious, righteous, non-profligate, honest and ameen, there being no declaration to the contrary by a court of law.
He maintained that the finance minister is also having business regarding management of finances by different means relating money-management and currency. He said that Dar is holding important portfolio like the federal minister for finance directly relating to financial and economic management of the State and the Government, any person who is even having any iota regarding weakness of his character cannot be acceptable and tolerable in the interest of the people and the country as well as any other type of conflict of interest.