Nawaz rejects Shujaat Azeem's resignation

Published December 16, 2015
Shujaat Azeem was appointed as the special adviser to the prime minister on aviation in January last year.─ INP/File
Shujaat Azeem was appointed as the special adviser to the prime minister on aviation in January last year.─ INP/File

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday rejected the resignation of Shujaat Azeem, the special assistant to premier on aviation.

A statement released by the PM Office said "the premier will not accept Azeem's resignation until Supreme Court of Pakistan delivers a verdict in the case against him".

Azeem was appointed as the special adviser to the prime minister on aviation in January last year.

Related: Shujaat Azeem tenders resignation after Supreme Court's observation

Azeem, tendered his resignation on Monday from his post, after the Supreme Court had restrained him from taking part in the sale process of Pakistan Airlines International (PIA).

Shujaat Azeem is required to appear in person before a three-judge SC bench headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali when the case will commence again on January 11, 2016.

The adviser is facing similar allegations before the SC through petitions which he faced earlier, mentioning that he was court-martialled while he was in the service of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) from 1968 to 1979.

Earlier in July, Azeem had to resign from the post of adviser to the prime minister on the Aviation Division after he got embroiled in a controversy before the court for being court-martialled and having dual nationality (Canadian and Pakistani).

The court is seized with contempt of court petitions moved by a private citizen, Mehmood Akhtar Naqvi, as well as by the general secretary of Pakistan Airline Pilot Association against the prime minister for appointing the special assistant in contravention of earlier court directions in the high office with the status of the minister of state.

Also Read: SC asks govt to explain Captain Azeem’s appointment

Opinion

Editorial

Some progress
Updated 27 Mar, 2025

Some progress

The hard-won macroeconomic stability is only a short distance away from a deeper crisis.
Time to talk
27 Mar, 2025

Time to talk

IN an encouraging development, the government has signalled openness to PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s ...
Black Sea truce
27 Mar, 2025

Black Sea truce

WHILE the Trump administration may have no problem with Israel renewing its rampage in Gaza, it is playing ...
Kabul visit
Updated 26 Mar, 2025

Kabul visit

Islamabad should continue to emphasise that presence of terrorists on Afghan soil stands in the way of normal commercial ties.
Drought warning
26 Mar, 2025

Drought warning

DRIVEN by rising temperatures linked to climate change, increasing drought events across Pakistan have affected tens...
Deadly roads
26 Mar, 2025

Deadly roads

DESPITE daytime restrictions on heavy vehicles, Karachi continues to witness one horrific traffic accident after...