Tareen’s disqualification doesn’t elate Saad Rafique

Railways minister says the tradition of getting politicians disqualified from courts is condemnable

Reacting to the top court’s verdict that disqualified Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Jahangir Tareen as MNA, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said the judgment did not make him happy.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court had disqualified Tareen under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution for concealing his 12-acre Hyde House property in the United Kingdom earlier today.

The court, however, dismissed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi’s petition for disqualification of PTI chief Imran Khan.

Speaking to reporters in Karachi on Friday, PML-N Stalwart Saad Rafique said the tradition of getting politicians disqualified from courts is condemnable, Express News reported.

“Whether it’s Jahangir Tareen or [former PPP prime minister] Yousuf Raza Gilani, politicians’ disqualification doesn’t make me happy,” he was quoted as saying.



“Taking political battles to courts isn’t a solution… I strongly condemn court verdicts of disqualifying politicians,” he added.

Regretting the continuous political turmoil in the country, the minister said the PML-N government is not allowed to govern in peace. “However, we are still firm despite all sorts of allegations against us,” he also said.

Highlighting his party's stance on 'protecting democratic setup', Rafique said that Nawaz Sharif – the PML-N chief and deposed prime minister – had always stopped the party leaders from becoming part of any bid to destabilise the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government.

“Good or bad, Nawaz Sharif directed us to let Zardari Sahib’s government continue for the sake of democracy,” he said.