Govt to file disqualification reference against Zardari: info minister

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to file a disqualification reference against Pakistan Peoples' Party co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari in the Election Commission of Pakistan for concealing his assets.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Wednesday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has directed its Sindh lawmaker Khurram Sher Zaman to file a reference against Zardari for not mentioning his foreign assets in the nomination papers.

“Zardari owns an apartment in the United States. Under Article 62/63, he was bound to declare his assets which he didn’t. He is not eligible to remain a member of the parliament anymore,” Chaudhry said. 

He said that the investigation against Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif, Khawaja Saad Rafique and Pakistan Peoples Party began in the previous tenure; the incumbent government has only given a free hand to the investigators. 

"They didn't let the institutions initiate transparent inquiries. We promised to our voters that we will bring corruption-free political structure," he added. 

The information minister said that the PTI legislators are not facing probes because they weren't in charge of the federal government before. 

He said that Pakistan's national image is improving abroad due to the NAB probes as it is resulting in more foreign direct investments. 

"Portugal has taken off its travel advisory on Pakistan and declared it a green zone. Many more countries will also change their travel advisory," the minister said. 

Chaudhry said that the country will receive the biggest investment of its history in the coming days, adding that multinational companies are now interested to invest in the country.