LAHORE – Another sitting Pakistani minister has reportedly been found in possession of an iqama, adding to the number of lawmakers having a permit to work abroad.
According to Express Tribune, Communications Minister Hafiz Abdul Karim Qadir Bakhsh is believed to have held an iqama (from Jan 2014 to June 2016), which allows him to work as a driver in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
It is, however, unconfirmed whether Abdul Karim has renewed his iqama or not.
Under Pakistan’s constitution, a public office holder cannot be an employee of any other organization within Pakistan – let alone anywhere abroad.
The PML-N lawmaker from NA-172 Dera Ghazi Khan is also facing a National Accountability Bureau probe into a fake degrees case.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/khawaja-asif-drawing-rs1-43m-salary-from-uae-firm/
The revelation comes months after Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif and Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal were found holding iqamas of UAE and Saudi Arabia respectively.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/iqama-list-swells-as-ahsan-iqbal-admits-holding-saudi-work-permit/
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court disqualified former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for not disclosing in his nomination papers that he possessed an iqama to work at his son’s company in the United Arab Emirates.
The Islamabad High Court is currently hearing a petition seeking the foreign minister’s disqualification for possessing an iqama.
