Khawaja Asif’s disqualification sparks joy and grief in political camps

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday welcomed the decision of disqualification of Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif.

PTI said that the party’s long-standing stance over the matter has been stamped as correct by the court of law.

The PTI chief took to Twitter to express his views over the development and said, “Another darbari of the Godfather disqualified on the same pattern …as well as being guilty of brazen conflict of interest”.

Khan used the opportunity to recall Asif’s criticism and said that Asif criticized Shaukhat Khanam Cancer Hospital and now he has publicly been humiliated here (in Pakistan) and abroad.

Petitioner in the case and PTI leader Usman Dar, who was defeated by Asif in 2013 general elections said that his five years long struggle against Khawaja Asif bore fruit today and the nation should celebrate the court’s order as it’s against the greatest symbol of corruption in Pakistani politics. He added that the credit goes to PTI chief Imran Khan who always backed and supported him in his fight.



Senior PTI leader Dr Shireen Mazari said, “Justice done! Had major conflict of interest for working for a foreign company while being first Defense Minister then Foreign Minister …good riddance to bad rubbish”.

PML-N’s response

Senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and daughter of former premier Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz said that Khawaja Asif was disqualified in a fixed match.

She posted one of her picture with Khawaja Asif and tweeted “Disqualify in a fixed match those you cannot face through the power of the vote…people of Pakistan will vote for even the shadow of Khawaja Asif now.”



She questioned the limits to which her father’s political opponent would drag the ongoing anti-PML-N campaign? “Disqualify the whole PML-N, we will be the winners at the end of the day,” she commented.

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif said “We respect court’s decision. I believe Supreme Court of Pakistan will do justice with Khawaja Asif. Asif …we are with him at this testing time.”

PTI rebuffs news

Meanwhile, the PTI on Thursday rejected all the rumours about alleged worsening matrimonial relationship of party chief Imran Khan with his third wife, Bushra Maneka.

The party released a statement lodging a complaint against a media outlet that first published the news saying ‘report is utterly false’. The statement adds that “Several baseless allegations have been made regarding the personal and marital life of Imran Khan and the ill-intended newspaper made no effort to verify it …before publishing it”.



“The filing of malicious news report targeting the integrity of Imran Khan and his family is a clear attempt to scandalise the personal life…before the upcoming general elections,” it stated.

According to a media report Ms Maneka has left Bani Gala after the cricketer-turned-politician is believed to have been upset with her son’s presence at the residence for longer than necessary.