Supreme Court reserves verdict on dual citizenship

Concluding the hearing of dual nationality case, the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday reserved the verdict to be announced in a day or two.

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry resumed hearing of the dual nationality case.

It is vital to mention here that dual citizenships held by parliamentarians sparked a debate in the country and has resulted in the apex court disqualifying several members of parliament and provincial assemblies after evidence emerged that they held dual nationalities.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry had also directed authorities to issue notices again to parliamentarians holding dual citizenship, but who have not appeared before the court hitherto.

In the today’s hearing, the Member Provincial (Punjab) Assembly (MPA) Amna Buttar informed the court that she wouldn’t be going to the house in future.

Upon which, the bench remarked that the dual nationality holders couldn’t be given the authority for law making in the country.

While referring to British nationality, Justice Khilji Arif said, “The British national thinks himself the slave of the Queen and added that the common man has the right to ask the member parliament about his dual nationality”.

Moreover, Chief Justice said that no compromise could be made on the issue of dual citizenship in the parliament making laws relating to country’s security.

Upon which, counsel for MPA Amna Buttar informed the court that her client was now aware of the dual nationality law and his client would not participate in any session of the parliament. The case was adjourned till October 2.

It is vital to mention here that the Supreme Court during the course of this case had suspended the memberships of Senator Rehman Malik, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA Muhammad Jamil Malik, PPP MPA Dr Amna Buttar, MNA Zahid Iqbal, MNA Farah Naz Ispahani, MPA Muhammad Akhlaq and MPA Dr Ahmad Ali Shah.

In Rehman Malik’s case, the apex court had asked his lawyer to produce the renunciation certificate issued by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) and sought a fresh record of his election as a senator from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Sep 18 2012. Filed under National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.