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

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