Abbasi to appeal against Imran’s acquittal in disqualification case

• Threatens to take Imran’s California case to SC

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Hanif Abbasi is ready to file a review petition in the Supreme Court (SC) against its verdict which gave Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan a clean chit in the disqualification case last week.

Abbasi had filed petitions against the PTI leaders, accusing them of concealing assets, in response to the cases filed by PTI leadership against Nawaz Sharif and his family, which ultimately got Nawaz disqualified by the SC.

The apex court absolved the PTI chief of all allegations but disqualified his aide and confidant, party’s (now former) secretary general Jahangir Tareen, under Article 62(1) (f) of the Constitution.

The three-judge bench observed the PTI chief had no legal obligation to disclose his offshore company as an asset in his income tax returns or his statement of assets and liabilities filed with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The decision on December 15 was seen as discriminatory by arch-rivals PML-N, with the deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif criticising “double standards of justice” and announcing to run a full-fledged campaign to uphold the supremacy of the law and the Constitution.

Speaking to media in Lahore on Monday, Abbasi said that he hoped Imran will be disqualified this time.

He also castigated PTI’s Aleem Khan, who, he said was a “defaulter of billions”. “The plane that Imran uses to travel is owned by Jahangir Tareen and Aleem Khan provides for the fuel,” Abbasi alleged.

The remarks drew a stern reaction from Aleem, who called Abbasi a drug dealer, saying he will be held accountable relating to the execution of several development projects.

Abbasi also threatened to take Imran Khan’s California case to the top court.

A court in Los Angeles, California had ruled that Imran Khan was the legal father of a four-year-old southern California girl.

“Imran Khan should stop using abusive language and behave more sensibly,” Abbasi said, adding that the PTI leader has admitted to laying the foundation of the party with money earned from gambling.

He also claimed that Nawaz Sharif’s political career cannot be ended on someone’s whim.