Former Pakistani foreign minister Khawaja Asif will be allowed to contest a July 25 general election after the Supreme Court on Friday overturned his disqualification from politics, in a boost to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party. I am thankful to the judiciary," Khawaja Asif tweeted shortly after the verdict was announced. Munir Malik, a senior member of Asif's counsel, told the English-language Dawn newspaper that Asif "can contest the upcoming election" after the ruling. Asif, one of Pakistan's most prominent politicians, is part of Sharif's inner circle and one of the most senior figures in the ruling part. He earlier headed the defence and power ministries and was foreign minister until the court disqualified him.

Source: dna June 01, 2018 08:28 UTC