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

More than words
Updated 04 Apr, 2025

More than words

Holistic development can only work when there is organic and credible political activity in the province.
Poor publicity
04 Apr, 2025

Poor publicity

FORTUNE does not seem to be favouring the PTI — at least not yet. With the party’s founder confined from public...
Party pooper
04 Apr, 2025

Party pooper

INDIA’s role of a spoilsport is tiresome. From pulling books from shelves, such as Wendy Doniger’s The Hindus: ...
Canal unrest
Updated 03 Apr, 2025

Canal unrest

With rising water scarcity in Indus system, it is crucial to move towards a consensus-driven policymaking process.
Iran-US tension
03 Apr, 2025

Iran-US tension

THE Trump administration’s threats aimed at Iran do not bode well for global peace, and unless Washington changes...
Flights to history
03 Apr, 2025

Flights to history

MOHENJODARO could have been the forgotten gold we desperately need. Instead, this 5,000-year-old well of antiquity ...