Pak's interior min faces disqualification

Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik is facing the possibility of being disqualified as an MP and from the federal cabinet once the government begins implementing the Pakistan supreme court's detailed judgement striking down a controversial graft amnesty.

Malik, who is a member of the Senate or upper house of parliament, has obtained bail in two corruption cases that were re-opened after the apex court struck down the national reconciliation ordinance though a brief order last month. In its detailed judgement issued this week, the court again directed the government to reopen all cases scrapped under the NRO.

Malik has also been declared a "proclaimed offender" in two cases filed by the Federal Investigation Agency. Legal experts say this alone disqualifies him from being a senator and also opens the possibility of him being arrested.

The minister's counsel Amjad Iqbal Qureshi told The News daily that the minister's conviction in absentia in two corruption cases has been suspended by the Lahore High Court, which also granted him bail. Qureshi, however, said he was unaware of the FIA cases against Malik in which the minister is reportedly still an "absconder".