Islamabad (Staff Report): The special assistant to PM on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Zulfikar Bukhari on Wednesday submitted his reply in the Supreme Court on a disqualification petition against him.
Bukhari contended that Article 62 and 63 of the constitution is not applicable in this case since he was not a parliamentarian. “I was born in Britain and did not seek citizenship after. I am advising the premier on issues of overseas Pakistanis,” he added.
Requesting the court to reject the petition, Bukhari asserted that the prime minister has authority to appoint special advisers.
Justice Nisar, while hearing the petition filed by Muhammad Ali Chattah and Mirza Abul Moiz Baig seeking disqualification of the special assistant on the basis of his dual nationality, reacted strongly to Prime Minister Imran Khan terming Supreme Court’s remarks in Zulfikar Bukhari case ‘regrettable’.
The top judge stressed to continue using the word ‘nepotism’ to assert that justice is independent of ‘anyone’s regret’.
The premier, in an interview with senior anchorpersons, had lamented the top judge using the word ‘nepotism’ for Bukhari’s appointment as Special Advisor on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development.
On September 17, Khan had appointed Bukhari as his special assistant, inviting criticism from the opposition due to his dual nationality.
