The Supreme Court annuls the lifetime disqualification of the former foreign minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif on Friday.

Supreme Court issued a short verdict in which the disqualification of Khawaja Asif is reversed. Khawaja Asif now eligible to contest elections in the upcoming polls as his lifetime ban on contesting elections is nullified by the Supreme Court.  

A three-member bench headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial announced the verdict. 

Earlier, on Friday morning, the Supreme Court (SC) reserved the verdict on an appeal against lifetime disqualification of former foreign minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif.

“If a decision is reached then the verdict will be announced today,” the bench remarked. 

The three-member bench headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial while other members of the bench are Justices Faisal Arab and Sajjad Ali Shah.

Khawaja Muhammad Asif, leader of Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N), had filed a petition in the apex court against his disqualification by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on April 26. 

Whereas advocate Sikander Bashir Mohmand, counsel of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Usman Dar, remarked, “Asif's oath should be reviewed,” adding that Asif had taken the oath to never think about his personal benefit. 

He further said, “He was working as an employee in a foreign country while serving as a minister in Pakistan.” 

Moreover, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Leader Usman Dar congratulated former foreign minister Khawaja Asif on becoming eligible to contest upcoming general elections, adding that the people of Sialkot will seal their fates now.

He said outside the Supreme Court, “We will compete in the court of people in Sialkot now. There will be a tough competition in Sialkot.”