ISLAMABAD: PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi has resigned as special assistant to the prime minister (SAPM).
A copy of the resignation has been sent to the PM’s Office. Abbasi was facing legal challenges after he was appointed to the post by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Two weeks ago, the Islamabad High Court restrained Hanif Abbasi from working as SAPM. IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard a petition filed by former interior minister Sheikh Rashid, who has challenged Abbasi’s appointment as SAPM on grounds of his 2018 conviction in an ephedrine case.
During a hearing on May 9, the court had directed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to reconsider Abbasi’s appointment “in case the conviction has not been set aside”.
Abbasi was notified as a SAPM, with the status of federal minister, on April 27 but was not assigned a portfolio. Sheikh Rashid had filed the petition challenging Abbasi’s appointment on May 6.
The petition pointed out that the Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) on July 21, 2012 registered an FIR against Abbasi under Section 9-C, 14 and 15 of the Control of Narcotics Substance Act, 1997 for selling 500kg ephedrine to drug smugglers instead of using the controlled chemical in medicine.
The CNS Court on July 21, 2018 found Abbasi guilty of selling 500kg of ephedrine to narcotics smugglers and a fine of Rs1 million was imposed on the PML-N leader along with the life sentence. Seven other accused were acquitted in the case. However, the sentence was suspended in April 2019.
The petition termed the said appointment as illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional as Abbasi was inherently disqualified from holding this prestigious public office. The petition requested the court to set aside the notification for the appointment of Abbasi as SAPM.
