ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) chief justice on Tuesday established a new larger bench to hear a petition seeking the disqualification of Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif.
The three-judge bench, led by Justice Athar Minallah, will resume the hearing on April 5.
The bench was earlier dissolved after Justice Gul Hassan Aurangzeb declined to proceed with the case and subsequently the matter was referred to IHC Chief Justice Anwar Khan Kasi to reconstitute the bench.
Earlier on Sept 23, the IHC constituted a larger bench to hear the petition.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Usman Dar had submitted a plea to the IHC regarding the former defence minister’s dismissal on the pretext of Iqama.
The court, giving an initial verdict, said that the matter has been referred to the chief justice for the constitution of a larger bench. It was learnt that the court has formed a larger bench which will hear the case on Sept 26.
The larger bench consists of Justice Amir Farooq, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani and Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb.
Responding to the allegations, Asif had earlier said the salary he received through the Iqama had been declared with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Federal Bureau of Revenue for the last 27 years.
