<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" version="2.0"><channel>
                        <title>The Express Tribune</title>
                        <atom:link href="https://tribune.com.pk/feed/dualnationality" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/>
                        <link>https://tribune.com.pk/feed/dualnationality</link>
                        <description>The Express Tribune keeps you up to date with all the latest happenings from Pakistan and across the world!</description>
                        <lastBuildDate>Fri, 12 Jun 26 23:32:15 +0500</lastBuildDate>
                        <language>en-US</language>
                        <sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
                        <sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
                        <generator>https://laravel.com/</generator><item>
			<title>SC rejects petition challenging Zulfi Bukhari’s appointment</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1814246/sc-rejects-petition-challenging-zulfi-bukharis-appointment</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1814246/sc-rejects-petition-challenging-zulfi-bukharis-appointment#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 29 Sep 18 06:30:20 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Hasnaat Malik]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=1814246</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Petitioners did not approach proper forum, says apex court registrar]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[&nbsp;

The Supreme Court registrar on Friday returned a constitutional petition against the appointment of Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari, popularly known as Zulfi Bukhari, as special assistant to the Prime Minister.

The Supreme Court registrar raised objections, saying the petitioners did not approach the proper forum and the prime minister has been impleaded as a respondent in the petition, which cannot be done under Article 248 of the Constitution.

Bukhari is a close aide and friend of Prime Minister Imran Khan and was appointed as special assistant to the prime minister for overseas Pakistanis and human resource development.

The petition filed under Article 184(3) of the Constitution takes issue with Bukhari’s dual nationality and states that he is currently under investigation by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

[caption id="attachment_1814254" align="alignnone" width="625"] PHOTO:EXPRESS[/caption]

The challenge to Bukhari’s appointment comes from Mirza Moiz Baig and Adil Chattha, two recent law graduates of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).

Baig and Chattha said that the registrar’s was not a judicial order, which would be challenged soon.

They also raised the point that the Supreme Court had in the past accepted petitions wherein the PM was impleaded as a party, citing cases of Yousaf Raza Gilani and Nawaz Sharif. They said the court in those cases held that the immunity under Article 248 was not absolute.

The petition they filed argues that a person ineligible to become a member of parliament, and thus a federal minister, cannot be given the status of state minister through appointment by the prime minister as a special assistant.

It further states that such an appointment “paves the way for dual citizens and those guilty of inter-alia, misdeclaration of assets and contempt of court to be entrusted with decisions that determine the fate of the country”.

Zulfi Bukhari's appointment challenged in SC

The challenge to Bukhari’s appointment comes from Mirza Moiz Baig and Adil Chattha, two recent law graduates of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).

Baig and Chattha said that the registrar is not a judicial order which would be challenged soon.

They also raised the point that the Supreme Court has in the past accepted petitions wherein the PM was impleaded as a party, including in the cases of Yousaf Raza Gilani and Nawaz Sharif. They said the Court in those cases held that the immunity under Article 248 was not absolute.

The petition they filed argues that a person ineligible to become a member of the Parliament and thus a federal minister cannot be given the status of a state minister through appointment by the prime minister as a special assistant.

It further states that such an appointment “paves the way for dual-citizens and those guilty of inter-alia, misdeclaration of assets and contempt of court to be entrusted with decisions that determine the fate of the country”.

‘Comfortable with PM’: PTI defends Zulfi Bukhari’s appointment

In 2015, the Supreme Court took exception to the prime minister’s appointment of Shujaat Azeem, also a dual national, as a special assistant to the PM on aviation.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Media Iftikhar Durrani had defended Bukhari’s appointment after the move was criticised by politicians and sections of the media.

Durrani said, “Bukhari is a respected citizen with the required credentials to execute the job.”

When asked why an individual with active NAB inquiries was given the position, Durrani said, “Bukhari is being subjected to political victimisation for allegations moved by the previous government. Bukhari is close to and is comfortable with the prime minister. It will be unfair to remove him from office until an actual reference is filed.”

Durrani assured that Bukhari would step down if he was found involved in any wrongdoing. He emphasised that the government takes corruption references seriously.

&nbsp;]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/1814246-zulfi-1538201445/1814246-zulfi-1538201445.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>House proceedings: 3 officials ‘dual nationals’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/583835/house-proceedings-3-officials-dual-nationals</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/583835/house-proceedings-3-officials-dual-nationals#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 30 Jul 13 05:09:06 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[umer.nangiana]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=583835</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[NA informed no dual national serving in at least 8 divisions and ministries.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Dual nationality of public officials of the country’s top institutions formed the centre of discussion in the National Assembly session on Monday. Two NAB and one IB official hold dual nationality, the lower house was informed by the minister in-charge cabinet.


Two assistant directors in National Accountability Bureau (NAB) are dual nationals: Adnan Mehmood- a Norwegian and Muhammad Abbas Khan – an Australian national; whereas a 17 grade officer in the Intelligence Bureau (IB) Muhammad Zafar Iqbal is a Canadian national.

Whereas the Constitution bars dual nationals from becoming legislator, there is no such legal obstacle for government servants.

“We responded to a circular by the cabinet division regarding the status of dual nationals,” a NAB spokesman confirmed to The Express Tribune, adding that “No foreign nationals were serving in NAB in my knowledge.” These two officers might be among new recruits, he went on to say.



The IB officer Zafar Iqbal was reinstated into service under the Sacked Employees Act 2010. Minister in-charge cabinet division told the house that under the same act 1,456 employees were reinstated into service in IB.

Responding to questions raised by PPP MNA Azra Fazal Pechuho, the NA was moreover informed that no dual national was serving in eight divisions and ministries; however, response was awaited from 35 other divisions and ministries.

He also informed the house that eight non-elected members of NA and nine senators not belonging to Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) spent development funds under Peoples Works Programme (PWP)-I in FATA. The minister did not give the details of the funds spent.

About PWP-II, the minister added that those funds were released in compliance with Prime Minister’s directives.

MNAs of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) walked out of the NA in protest over the minister concerned not paying heed to their complaints about long power outages in their constituencies.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 30th, 2013. ]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/583835-dualnationality-1375160907/583835-dualnationality-1375160907.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Dual national case: SC issues contempt notice to Zardari, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/539923/dual-national-case-sc-issues-contempt-notice-to-zardari-raja-pervaiz-ashraf</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/539923/dual-national-case-sc-issues-contempt-notice-to-zardari-raja-pervaiz-ashraf#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 13 14:19:41 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=539923</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Notices also issued to CEC and Rehman Malik for not implementing court orders in the case.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Supreme Court of Pakistan issued contempt of court notices to President Asif Ali Zardari and former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Wednesday for not implementing the court’s verdict in the dual national case, reported Radio Pakistan.

According to the report, a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry will hear the case on Thursday.

Notices were also issued to Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G Ebrahim‚ chairman Senate‚ former interior minister Rehman Malik and the attorney general.

Last month, the Supreme Court had ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and courts across the country to ‘ruthlessly scrutinise’ all election contestants and also take action against former lawmakers with fake degrees and dual nationalities

The judiciary – which had given the landmark judgement that any person having dual nationality cannot become a member of the parliament – had also decided to look within its own institution for those possessing dual nationalities.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/539923-supremecourtafp-1366812859/539923-supremecourtafp-1366812859.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Judge resigns over dual nationality</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/537896/judge-resigns-over-dual-nationality</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/537896/judge-resigns-over-dual-nationality#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 19 Apr 13 20:42:12 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[naeem.sahoutara]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=537896</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Collection of judges’ documents still underway.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[An additional district and sessions judge resigned from her post over dual nationality, The Express Tribune has learnt.

This is the first time in Sindh’s judiciary that a judicial officer quit her services following the direction of the Sindh High Court. According to an official, additional district and sessions judge, Farzana Mushtaq, who is a BPS-20 grade officer, has given her resignation since she possessed both Pakistani and Canadian citizenship. Mushtaq was appointed on April 9, 1996.

Her resignation was accepted by the Sindh chief minister, who is a competent authority, with effect from March 7, according to an official notification a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune.

The judiciary - which had given the landmark judgment that any person having dual nationality cannot become a member of the parliament - had also decided to look within its own institution for those possessing dual nationalities. All judicial officers in the superior and subordinate courts were asked to submit details as to whether they hold the nationality only of Pakistan or any other country.

An official told The Express Tribune that the registrar of the Sindh High Court had issued forms in January, asking the judicial officers of the high court to furnish details of their nationality. Meanwhile, a member of the high court’s inspection team had also issued similar forms to all the judicial officers in the province through the relevant district and sessions judges.

“The district and sessions judges were directed to provide details of their nationality and submit the forms to the high court through an inspection team member,” the official added. “The forms from other judicial officers are still being processed, but so far only one such case has come up,” he said, referring to Mushtaq’s resignation.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 20th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/537896-PakUSpassport-1366403788/537896-PakUSpassport-1366403788.JPG" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Dual nationality case: Former MPA to serve one year in jail</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/529960/dual-nationality-case-former-mpa-to-serve-one-year-in-jail</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/529960/dual-nationality-case-former-mpa-to-serve-one-year-in-jail#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 02 Apr 13 08:38:56 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=529960</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Scrutiny of former members of the provincial and national assembly continues.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Former Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) Javed Tarakai was sentenced to one year in jail and fined Rs5,000 by a district and sessions judge in a dual-nationality case, reported Express News on Tuesday.

It is a time of scrutiny for all former members of the provincial and national assembly as the time for general elections comes closer.

Earlier on Tuesday, another former MPA Khalifa Abdul Qayyum was sentenced to three years in jail along with a Rs5,000 penalty on the premise of a fake degree.

Having a graduation degree is no more a legal requirement to participate in elections, but anyone who is proved of having forged in the past stands disqualified to take part in the elections.

For the first time in Pakistan’s history, three of the country’s top institutions – State Bank of Pakistan, National Accountability Bureau and Federal Board of Revenue – will screen candidates’ backgrounds for criminal conviction, loan default, tax evasion and other financial irregularities.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/529960-mandualnationality-1364891880/529960-mandualnationality-1364891880.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Under scrutiny: For some ex-MPs, April will be the cruellest month</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/528183/under-scrutiny-for-some-ex-mps-april-will-be-the-cruellest-month</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/528183/under-scrutiny-for-some-ex-mps-april-will-be-the-cruellest-month#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 Mar 13 05:02:37 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[mudassir.raja]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=528183</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[CJ demands dues from dual nationals, directs action against officials delaying fake degree cases.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Former members of parliament (MPs) with dual nationalities and those with fake degrees found themselves the targets of the Supreme Court’s ire on Thursday. On that day, the Supreme Court issued notices to as many as 20 former members of parliament who either resigned or were disqualified over their dual nationalities.


Hearing the case on the implementation of the SC judgment in the dual nationality case, the three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, asked the MPs in question to respond to the notice and explain why criminal proceedings should not be initiated against them and why the perks they enjoyed during their time in parliament should not be recovered.

Those issued notices include Nadeem Ahsan, Haider Abbas Rizvi, Fouzia Ejaz, Sabin Rizvi, Dr Aresh Kumar, Arif Aziz Shaikh, Jamil Malik, Fouzia Afzal, Tahir Ali Javed, Jamil Ashraf, Javed Iqbal, Murad Ali Shah, Sadiq Ali Memon, Abdul Moeed, (the late) Muhammad Ali Shah, Askari Taqvi and Muhammad Raza Haroon. They have been directed to respond to the notice by April 1, the next date of hearing.

During the proceedings, Justice Chaudhry remarked that the court had earlier ordered the National Assembly secretary to ensure Shehnaz Sheikh – a member of National Assembly from Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid who was disqualified for possessing an Australian nationality – refunded the benefits and salary she received during her time in Parliament.

The CJ also expressed his ire at the Election Commission for failing to take action in order to ensure the recovery of benefits enjoyed by dual national MPs.

Appearing before the court, ECP official Abdul Rehman told the bench that they had sent a list of those MPs to returning officers who were tasked with accepting nominations for the upcoming polls, so that they may question them on their violation of article 63(1) of the Constitution.

The bench subsequently directed the ECP to provide the particulars of the 20 MPs and asked the SC registrar to issue notices to them.

But while the ECP came under fire on the dual nationality issue, they received support from the SC when it came to MPs with fake degrees. The Supreme Court directed all police chiefs to furnish reports into fake degree allegations against former parliamentarians and initiate action against those police officers who were delaying investigations.

The decision, by a three member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, came after the ECP forwarded the names of alleged fake degree holders.

The bench also asked the judiciary to take all steps necessary to ensure that fake degree cases are adjudicated before the upcoming elections. In its judgment, it asked registrars of High Courts to inform their respective chief justices about those trial judges who were delaying fake degree cases, so that appropriate action against them could be initiated. The apex court also directed that the trial judges must not give undue adjournments without cogent reasons.

The bench, which included Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, also directed the registrars and police chiefs to furnish their complete reports about the 34 pending fake degree cases by April 4.

Earlier, the ECP and registrars of all high courts except the Balochistan High Court, informed the bench about details of pending cases, with most of the cases lagging in Punjab.

“If found negligent in carrying out their duties the SC might take action against the concerned police officers and trial judges”, said Justice Chaudhry as he expressed dissatisfaction on the reports submitted about progress in pending cases.

The court also directed the district and sessions judge Muzaffargarh, to conduct daily hearings of the complaint against former PPP MNA Jamshed Dasti and conclude the hearing before April 4.

The court declined Dasti’s request for deferring criminal proceedings against him until after the upcoming elections.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 29th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/528183-dualnationality-1364533329/528183-dualnationality-1364533329.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>In defence of dual nationals</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/521869/in-defence-of-dual-nationals</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/521869/in-defence-of-dual-nationals#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 16 Mar 13 18:46:31 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[ali.zafar]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=521869</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Let me say allegiance is not exclusive; it is earned.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Dual nationality bashing has become common in Pakistan where it is still believed that citizenship and political loyalty to the state are inseparable. This was indeed the case in the mid-19th century when it was felt by developed states that dual nationality should not be allowed as immigrants from developing countries will retain loyalty to the country of their birth. With the changing relationships between nation states, emergence of democracies, development of international trade and commerce, and decreasing probability of wars, more than half of the world’s states now tolerate some form of dual nationality.

People forget that of the $12 billion remitted into Pakistan in 2012, a substantial portion was contributed by these dual nationals. The fact is that opportunities of employment and business in Pakistan are scarce, forcing many to seek fortunes abroad. Others may choose dual nationalities for various reasons: greater opportunity of trade and commerce, freedom of travel or simply access to education. The point is that there is no reason why we should doubt a Pakistani’s allegiance only because he is a dual national. While physically these Pakistanis may live abroad, their hearts and souls are still in the country of their birth. They are indeed more informed and concerned about Pakistan and just as patriotic as we who are living here. Most of them give regular support, in cash or kind, to the causes of Pakistan to various charities and are loyal friends of Pakistan.

Pakistani law allows Pakistani citizens to have dual nationality, the rationale behind which is that dual nationals act as Pakistan’s ambassadors abroad, participate in developing Pakistan’s economy and watch out for Pakistan’s interests. This means that all rights guaranteed under the Constitution, including the right to vote, fundamental rights, participation in matters of public importance and access to courts, become available to them.

Dual nationality is reciprocal. For example, under UK law, once British nationality is given to a Pakistani, the person becomes a British citizen with the right to obtain employment benefits, receive free healthcare, join political parties and even hold public offices. No discrimination is made only on the basis that he still holds a Pakistani passport. It is very natural for the British public to assert that such ‘Pakistanis’ would not be loyal to the British and that they should be treated differently, but this is not the case. I have met many people of Pakistani origin involved in British politics who have kept an equitable equilibrium in their loyalty to their adopted country and love and concern for Pakistan. They have raised voices at all levels whenever interests of Pakistan are involved. If the British system has accepted them as their own, there is no reason why we should not acknowledge born Pakistanis as true Pakistanis. Having said this, the framers of Pakistan’s Constitution decided that a person holding dual nationality cannot contest elections. This is because in 1973, the world’s attitude towards the dual nationality issue was still changing. I hope the time will come when this discrimination, too, will be done away with.

I, like many others in Pakistan, was extremely disturbed when the Supreme Court questioned Dr Tahirul Qadri’s right to challenge the constitution of the election commission on the ground that he holds Pakistani-Canadian citizenship. The petition’s dismissal has raised the question of whether a dual national Pakistani is a second-rate citizen who has no right to be concerned with Pakistan’s political system and democracy and cannot file a case for enforcement of fundamental rights. In many cases, the Supreme Court has reiterated the principle that to participate in politics is every citizen’s right. How can access to justice for the enforcement of this right be denied to a citizen who holds dual nationality?

Instead of attacking others for acquiring another nationality, we all need to respect their choices. To stop the exodus of skilled Pakistanis, we have to make Pakistan a land of opportunity, peace and tolerance. Sectarian killings, destruction of Christians’ homes, corruption and absence of rule of law are the negatives which need to be addressed.

Let me say allegiance is not exclusive; it is earned.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 17th, 2013. ]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/521869-AliZafarNew-1363452649/521869-AliZafarNew-1363452649.JPG" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Dual-nationality issue: Another MNA disqualified on last day</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/521658/dual-nationality-issue-another-mna-disqualified-on-last-day</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/521658/dual-nationality-issue-another-mna-disqualified-on-last-day#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 16 Mar 13 05:48:28 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=521658</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Rai Ghulam Mujtaba fails to establish his renunciation of Canadian citizenship.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[As the National Assembly’s term drew to an end on Friday, the Supreme Court disqualified yet another of its members after his dual nationality status could not be cleared up.


The bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed disqualified Pakistan Peoples Party MNA from NA-143 Okara-I, Rai Ghulam Mujtaba Kharal after he could not establish whether he had renounced his Canadian nationality or not.

“It is the last day of the National Assembly, but a legislator who possesses a dual-nationality has continued sitting in Parliament, when many others have lost their seats over their false oath, taken before contesting the elections,” Justice Chaudhry observed while disqualifying the PPP MNA.

The bench also expressed annoyance at the adjournment request made on the legislator’s behalf. “Kharral was not qualified for being an MNA under article 63 of the Constitution… He had been occupying his seat in Parliament as a disqualified person, without any authority,” the bench noted in its order.

Meanwhile, the disqualified MNA was ordered to deposit all perks and privileges he enjoyed at the expense of public exchequer with the NA secretary within two weeks.

The disqualified parliamentarian argued he had renounced his Canadian nationality before filling nomination papers.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 16th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/521658-dualnationality-1363412782/521658-dualnationality-1363412782.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Dual nationality: Shahnaz Sheikh’s case adjourned</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/519788/dual-nationality-shahnaz-sheikhs-case-adjourned</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/519788/dual-nationality-shahnaz-sheikhs-case-adjourned#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 12 Mar 13 20:11:15 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=519788</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[At the previous hearing, the judge had confirmed her pre-arrest bail against Rs100,000 bail bonds.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[District and Sessions Judge Nazir Ahmed Ganjana on Tuesday fixed March 19 for arguments in the dual nationality case of former PML-Q MNA Shahnaz Sheikh as no counsel appeared before the court owing to lawyers’ strike over the Joseph Colony incidents. At the previous hearing, the judge had confirmed her pre-arrest bail against Rs100,000 bail bonds and fixed March 12 for arguments on her acquittal application. He had also dismissed her application for exemption from personal appearance.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 13th, 2013. ]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/519788-Newsinbriefx-1363109748/519788-Newsinbriefx-1363109748.JPG" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Senators to debate why SC judges are allowed to be dual nationals</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/519452/senators-to-debate-why-sc-judges-are-allowed-to-be-dual-nationals</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/519452/senators-to-debate-why-sc-judges-are-allowed-to-be-dual-nationals#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 12 Mar 13 06:39:07 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[zahid.gishkori]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=519452</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Legal experts say Parliament cannot discuss conduct of judges.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[After knocking out many a politician on the dual nationality issue, judges of the superior courts are all set to be paid back in kind when the upper house of parliament starts debate on the applicability of the dual nationality restriction on judges.


“We want to lift the lid on the apex court’s judges who may hold dual nationality. Therefore, the Senate will start debate on judges’ dual nationality today (Tuesday),” said Senator Farhatullah Babar while talking to The Express Tribune. “Why is there an exception in the case of judges?” demanded Senator Babar, who is also the presidential spokesperson. The debate follows a motion by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senators Farhatullah Babar and Aitzaz Ahsan last week.

Labelling the issue “a matter of sufficient public importance” arising out of the reply given by the Supreme Court (SC), the senators have secured the approval of Senate Chairman Syed Nayyer Hussain Bukhari to debate the issue in the upper house of parliament.

In its reply to the Senate, the SC had twice highlighted that “in light of the Constitution of Pakistan, the issue of dual nationality is not applicable to the judges of the SC,” said SC Registrar Dr Faqir Hussain.

Disagreeing with the registrar’s statement, Senator Saeed Ghani said, “SC judges should tell the nation that they are not dual nationals. It is their moral obligation to clear their position by addressing lawmakers’ concerns on the issue,” he remarked while talking to The Express Tribune.

Under the law, parliamentarians cannot discuss conduct of the superior courts’ judges, says S M Zaffar.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12th, 2013. ]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/519452-dualnationality-1363070180/519452-dualnationality-1363070180.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Dual nationality</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/518378/dual-nationality-2</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/518378/dual-nationality-2#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 09 Mar 13 18:28:36 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[letter.]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=518378</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[It would be in the public interest to know if any judge of the superior judiciary is a dual national.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[According to a report, during a recent Senate session, Senator Farhatullah Babar told the house that he was receiving an answer to one of his questions, which had been asked three weeks ago. The question related to the number of judges who had dual nationality and whether any sitting Supreme Court judge was a dual national.

I, as a senior citizen of Pakistan, request under Article 19 of the Constitution, which gives right to information to citizens, that the Chief Justice of Pakistan kindly inform the nation if any judge in the superior judiciary is a dual national.

During the hearing of Dr Tahirul Qadri’s petition, the honourable Supreme Court told Mr Qadri that his foreign citizenship meant that he was not a genuine stakeholder in Pakistan’s affairs because his loyalty was at best divided. In that context, it would be in the public interest to know if any judge of the superior judiciary is a dual national. After all, the same standard should be applied to all institutions and politicians shouldn’t be singled out.

ST Hussain

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2013.

&nbsp;]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/518378-LetterEditorxFinalFix-1362849083/518378-LetterEditorxFinalFix-1362849083.JPG" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Equality before the law: Senators ask judges to come clean on dual nationality</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/516473/equality-before-the-law-senators-ask-judges-to-come-clean-on-dual-nationality</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/516473/equality-before-the-law-senators-ask-judges-to-come-clean-on-dual-nationality#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 06 Mar 13 05:11:20 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[zahid.gishkori]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=516473</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Farhatullah Babar secures Senate’s approval to debate issue within 3 days.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Senators criticised Supreme Court judges on Tuesday by expressing doubt that some of them may be dual nationals and were perhaps trying to cover it up.


The temperature rose during the question-answer session in the upper house when talk turned to whether any Supreme Court judge was a dual national. “I have great respect for the Supreme Court”, said Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Saeed Ghani, “but I believe there are some judges who are dual nationals”.

Dual nationality recently became a sore subject as the Election Commission has said that it disbars anyone from being elected in Pakistan. The debate also surfaced in the Supreme Court when it asked whether a dual Canadian national such as Dr Tahirul Qadri, a cleric with political leanings, could question an institution such as the election commission.

Babar also secured the approval of the Senate “to discuss a matter of sufficient public importance” arising out of the reply given by the Supreme Court regarding the issue. The senator also submitted a written motion on the subject that was also signed by Senator Aitzaz Ahsan for a first ever parliamentary discussion within three days.



The Supreme Court’s registrar has yet to respond to the Senate. “As the [Supreme Court] registrar has failed to answer… despite repeated requests by the law and justice ministry, doubts and fears surround their loyalties,” observed PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar. The question applies to any such judges in the high courts, Federal Shariat Court or the apex court.

Law Minister Farooq H Naek said he would ask the registrar again to submit the details. The Federal Shariat Court had informed him that none of its judges were dual nationals, but they were waiting to hear from the high courts. He stated that the apex court had repeated its earlier stance that neither the Constitution, nor the code of conduct for judges prevented a dual national from becoming a judge of the superior courts.

Taking exception to this reply, Babar said that regardless of whether the Constitution placed any embargo, he wanted to know whether there indeed were judges possessing dual nationality. “Our honourable judges are all wise and all knowing and I cannot believe that twice the Supreme Court misunderstood a straight forward and simple question,” he said, wondering as to why an evasive reply had been given.

“There is a possibility that some Supreme Court judges may hold dual nationality,” Babar said, adding that the registrar’s lack of cooperation when it came to questions from lawmakers was tantamount to contempt of the Senate.

“If a member of parliament, the army, a civil servant cannot hold dual nationality, then a judge should not either,” Babar said.

Babar said that he did not believe any judge had taken an oath of allegiance to the Constitution and monarch of any foreign country, but the reply given had created doubts that needed to be dispelled for the sake of the law and the prestige of the honorable judges.

He added that it was important a categorical assurance be given that there were no dual national judges regardless of whether the Constitution permitted it or not.

Senator Babar Awan observed that the registrar should be referred to two Senate standing committees — on Privileges and Law and Justice — because he had failed to respond to their queries. “Every citizen shall have the right to have access to information in all matters of public importance, subject to regulation and reasonable restrictions imposed by the law,” he said, quoting Article 19 (A) of the Constitution.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/516473-law-1362546444/516473-law-1362546444.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>‘Lying legislators’: Proceedings started to declare Amna Buttar proclaimed offender</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/516294/lying-legislators-proceedings-started-to-declare-amna-buttar-proclaimed-offender</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/516294/lying-legislators-proceedings-started-to-declare-amna-buttar-proclaimed-offender#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 05 Mar 13 20:06:27 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=516294</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Sheikh granted bail against Rs100,000, case against Rana Mehmood on Mar 19.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A court on Tuesday initiated proceedings to declare former Pakistan Peoples Party MPA Amna Buttar a proclaimed offender.


District and Sessions Judge Nazir Ahmed Ganjana was hearing three petitions, filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan, against former Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPA Amna Buttar, former Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s (PML-Q) MNA Begum Shahnaz Sheikh and former PML-Nawaz MPA Rana Asif Mehmood.

All three legislators have been disqualified by the Supreme Court for being dual nationals.

The judge will hear the case against Buttar on April 5. Buttar will be declared a proclaimed offender if she does not appear before the court at the next hearing. Buttar has not appeared before the court despite being sent several notices. The judge has also issued bailable and then non-bailable arrest warrants for her.

The court confirmed pre-arrest bail for Sheikh, against Rs100,000 bail bonds. The judge also dismissed an application filed by the former MNA for exemption from court appearance. The judge will hear arguments on her acquittal application on March 12.

The court will take up the case against Mehmood on March 19. Charges were framed against the former PML-N MPA at the last hearing.

The election commission says that the legislators lied while filing their nomination papers and were guilty of a ‘corrupt practice’ as defined in Sections 78 and 82 of the People’s Representative Act 1976 and several of Pakistan Penal Code sections.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/516294-dualnationality-1362514012/516294-dualnationality-1362514012.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Recognising rights of dual nationals</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/513425/recognising-rights-of-dual-nationals</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/513425/recognising-rights-of-dual-nationals#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 27 Feb 13 16:48:08 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[letter.]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=513425</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[It should not be forgotten that most dual nationals are natural citizens of Pakistan, secured this status by birth.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Rejection of the writ petition by the Supreme Court, regarding the reconstitution of the Election Commission of Pakistan filed by Dr Tahirul Qadri, has once again sparked intense debate over the status of dual nationals in Pakistan. The term, dual nationals, should be distinguished from that of foreign nationals and hence, these must not be confused with each other. There have been attempts to reduce dual nationals to pariah status. National sentiments towards them give the impression as if they are the root cause of all ailments of the country.
It should not be forgotten that most dual nationals are natural citizens of Pakistan and have secured this status by birth. There is no justification whatsoever of depriving any natural citizen of his/her basic citizenship right guaranteed by the Constitution. The Pakistan Citizenship Act, 1951 recognises the right of dual nationality of its citizens with 17 countries. Therefore, having been recognised by law, dual nationals should also be given full citizenship rights by allowing them to participate in the country’s political life. In Pakistan, the part of the Constitution, barring dual nationals from becoming parliamentarians contradicts the state’s official policy on the issue of dual nationality. It must be ratified by either changing the state policy on dual nationals or by amending the Constitution to this effect.
As far as the oath of allegiance of a dual national to a second country is concerned, it is only a legal formality, varying from county to country, and does not affect his loyalty to the first state.
If people like Sayeeda Warsi, Lord Nazir Ahmed and Lord Sarwar, despite being of Pakistani origin, can secure important political positions in the UK, then why not in Pakistan? Instead of complicating the issue of dual nationality, we should deal with it objectively by putting it in its true context. Doubting the patriotism and sincerity of millions of expatriate Pakistanis is neither justifiable nor justified. Therefore, dual nationals should also be given their due.
Mohsin Raza Malik
Published in The Express Tribune, February 28th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/513425-LetterEditorxFinalFix-1361981568/513425-LetterEditorxFinalFix-1361981568.JPG" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Dual nationality: Non-bailable warrants issued for former MPA</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/512484/dual-nationality-non-bailable-warrants-issued-for-former-mpa</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/512484/dual-nationality-non-bailable-warrants-issued-for-former-mpa#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 25 Feb 13 19:00:23 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=512484</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Shahnaz Sheikh gets bail, Rana Asif Mehmood gets bail extended till 27th.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[District and Sessions Judge Nazir Ahmed Ganjana on Monday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for former Pakistan Peoples Party MPA Amna Buttar for not turning up in court to answer allegations that she made a false declaration about dual nationality when filing her nomination papers.


The same court extended the interim bail of a former PML-N MPA and granted bail to a former PML-Q MNA facing similar charges.

The court had previously issued bailable warrants for Buttar, but she did not show up for Monday’s hearing. The court had also issued several notices summoning Buttar to earlier hearings, all of which she ignored. The judge directed the authorities concerned to arrest Buttar and produce her before the court by February 27.

On June 14, 2012, the Supreme Court disqualified Buttar on the grounds that she also had American nationality, which was a violation of Article 63(1) (C).

It directed the Punjab Assembly secretary to recover the monetary benefits she had enjoyed as an MPA.

The Election Commission of Pakistan later filed petitions against her and other parliamentarians disqualified on similar grounds accusing them of making a false declaration when they filed their nomination papers.

The district and sessions judge on Monday granted interim bail to former PML-Q MNA Begum Shahnaz Sheikh, alleged to have both Pakistani and Australian nationalities, until February 27 on surety of Rs30,000. The judge had issued bailable arrest warrants for her at the previous hearing, but she appeared before the court along with her counsel on Monday. Charges are expected to be framed against her at the next hearing.

The court extended the bail of former PML-N MPA Rana Asif Mehmod, reported to have Canadian and Pakistani nationalities, till February 27.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/512484-dualnationality-1361818677/512484-dualnationality-1361818677.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Dual dichotomy</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/511923/dual-dichotomy</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/511923/dual-dichotomy#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 24 Feb 13 15:57:17 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[letter.]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=511923</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Many of Pakistan's senior bureaucrats are dual national; are these people not handling vital matters of Pakistan?]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[I am a Canadian Pakistani and I hold dual nationality. I am clear that I can vote in Pakistan but not be a member of parliament as I could find myself divided in situations of moral and military conflicts. The Supreme Court of Pakistan held exactly the same point of view when deciding the petition made on an important national issue by a dual national, Mr Tahirul Qadri.
However the entire world is amazed and looks disdainfully at Pakistan for its double standards. It has a provincial governor who is a British national, a regulatory head who is an American national and a political party head who is a British national. A sizeable proportion of its senior bureaucrats are dual nationals.
Are these people not handling some of the most vital matters relating to the state of Pakistan? Why have the courts decided to look the other way in these cases? Why have they not been removed from their positions? If Pakistan chooses to live with such blatant dichotomies and discrepancies in its major policy matters, how can it ever hope to solve any of the humungous problems that it faces today? It may be far better for Pakistani rulers to get out of their deception modes, give up on petty political bribes and apply the same laws for all dual nationals of Pakistan.
Dr Sohail Kirmani
Deputy Director
Social Sciences Research Unit
Published in The Express Tribune, February 25th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/511923-LetterEditorxFinalFix-1361720566/511923-LetterEditorxFinalFix-1361720566.JPG" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Dual nationality: LHC dismisses  petition seeking ban on politicians</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/509673/dual-nationality-lhc-dismisses-petition-seeking-ban-on-politicians</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/509673/dual-nationality-lhc-dismisses-petition-seeking-ban-on-politicians#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 19 Feb 13 20:58:31 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=509673</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The petition had been moved by Advocate Muhammad Afaq.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Lahore High Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition seeking a ban on political leaders holding dual nationalities and observed that such issues could not be considered at a time when the general elections were approaching.

The petition had been moved by Advocate Muhammad Afaq.

On Tuesday, the petitioner argued that the loyalty of politicians disqualified by the Supreme Court over their dual nationality was suspect.

He requested the court to suspend the registration of the parities headed by politicians who still had dual nationalities.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 20th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/509673-lahore-1361297522/509673-lahore-1361297522.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Beyond the Law</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/508312/beyond-the-law</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/508312/beyond-the-law#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 16 Feb 13 18:40:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[saroop.ijaz]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=508312</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Supreme Court is no longer just a court of law; it's a court of Justice, a modern day incarnation of Solomonic ideal.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The malice of Dr Tahirul Qadri was never in the slightest doubt when he approached the Supreme Court. Neither was the intention to disrupt the democratic process and the questionable timing of the petition. This along with the fact that the Court was not vested with ‘quo warranto’ jurisdiction in this case meant that the petition could be easily and swiftly thrown out. Hence, no one should really be too sentimental about the Court ensuring that his grace was literally left ‘all dressed up and nowhere to go’, except perhaps to Canada just before Valentine’s Day. He will not be missed. However, the Court was not merely content with the formal legal arguments, which might have allowed the case to be dismissed immediately. My Lord did what was conceivably impossible, making Dr Qadri appear as a bit of a victim (just a bit and just for a moment). Dr Qadri’s petition was meant to create mischief and My Lord rightly dismissed it. It is unquestionably the right decision. Yet, one wonders if the questioning and the sermon on the suspect loyalty of dual nationals were really central to the adjudication, perhaps, even if it was dignified.

Placing this alongside the memo case, where an American national’s statement forms the core of the case, and apparently, a Canadian Pakistani’s letter has been incorporated in the petition, and one can come to the obvious conclusion of dual standards. Further placement of this with My Lord’s insistence and concern on expediting the process of voting for overseas Pakistanis makes this even more problematic. Yet to be fair to My Lords, there are no dual standards, there are no standards. Keeping in view the larger than life persona of My Lord, the response to those pedantically pointing out contradictions should be the words of Walt Whitman. “Do I contradict myself? Very well then, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes.” My Lord the Chief Justice and the Supreme Court having conquered the ultimate frontiers of the law have come to the point where mere reference to law does not satisfy. They have perhaps, evolved or grown out of the narrow, restricting confines of the law. There has to be more. Also, debates on formal legal points do not make for good breaking news television. The completely hypothetical, uncharitable and cynical observer might think that the remarks in Court and even parts of judgments are consciously or subconsciously designed to make for good sound bites and punch lines. Dismissing Dr Qadri’s petition on standing (locus standing), timing and bonafides would have been quick, yet it would not have fed our need for drama. The fact that millions of overseas Pakistanis sending billions of dollars of remittances probably would have been unnerved is ancillary to this desire, it seems. What is a bit of xenophobia, if it makes for punchy television tickers, right?

It is difficult to pinpoint the precise moment when My Lords transcended from mere jurists to the great, timeless, moral and political philosophers. Yet, the earliest clear indications were in the NRO judgment. The question before the Court was an important, yet not particularly exciting one; namely, if the NRO was a valid piece of legislation or not. The proceedings and the judgment were nothing if not exciting. The evidence considered was derived from assorted sources, from the caliphate of Hazrat Umar (RA) to the Holy Quran, from The Way of the World by Ron Suskind to the designs of the CIA. The (290-page) judgment is a captivating read. One of my Lords narrates the history of the subcontinent from the time of Aurangzeb to the present, reproducing a speech made by Lord Macaulay on the floor of the British Parliament in 1835, and then there are excerpts from the Shahab Nama, Sheikh Saadi, Rumi’s Masnavi. There has been no looking back; the reference to law gradually began to thin, while Hafiz, Rumi and Khayyam took the centre stage. It was in relation to the same case (the implementation proceeding) that one of My Lords penned the masterpiece “Pity the Nation” and a prime minister was sent packing.

One is reminded of this for another recent reason; the Swiss authorities have refused to open the case against the president, for reasons of immunity. The brazenness of this act is disturbing. Do the Swiss not know that one prime minister has been sent home, the other summoned to court, the entire apparatus of the state practically halted for three years, the nation has been pitied, etc? Those who pointed out that the president has immunity were said to be evil, on the government’s payroll. We wait with bated breath for an expose by one of our investigative journalists to reveal that the Swiss attorney general is really a federal government (Pakistani) apologist; probably his degree is fake, etc. The hypothetical cynic might ask if it was necessary to go on with this for so long, particularly when sovereign immunity is not a contentious legal point — if ego and the need to be in the headlines had some play here. The cynic might even go so far to say if an apology is in order for wastage of time, resources and exclusion of other cases. Perish the thought; pay no heed to the conspiracy mongers.

My Lords have assumed the role of the great moral tutor of our times. A lesser man might not have taken suo-motu cognisance of the conspiracy against Master Arsalan and initiated the proceedings by himself sitting in the first hearing. Statutes, legal codes and codes of conduct are generic and for ordinary mortals. The Supreme Court is no longer just an ordinary court of law; it is a court of Justice, a modern day incarnation of the Solomonic ideal, almost a religious/mystical experience. Dr Qadri’s petition was not only an attempt to sabotage elections (which it was), it was also an opportunity for My Lords to define or at least ponder over questions of patriotism and loyalty to the country. Great minds, we have been told, think alike. The unity of opinion among My Lords is unprecedented in legal history. Not one major instance of dissent by one judge immediately comes to mind (the sole notable exception being the Mukhtaran Mai case). Hence, the whining that My Lords restrict themselves to the letter of the law, etc. should stop and we should just be grateful for the wisdom imparted.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 17th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/508312-SaroopIjazNew-1361034074/508312-SaroopIjazNew-1361034074.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>The Supreme Court and dual nationals</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/507803/the-supreme-court-and-dual-nationals</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/507803/the-supreme-court-and-dual-nationals#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 15 Feb 13 17:03:38 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[letter.]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=507803</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[It makes no sense to stop an ordinary dual nationality petitioner while allowing dual national elite to rule Pakistan.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Supreme Court be praised. We now have a clearer understanding of what a dual national can and cannot do. A dual national can vote but cannot be a parliamentarian — Article 63 of the Constitution does not permit that. A dual national can be a civilian but cannot join the army — the army law makes it clear that you can fight for only one country at one time. A dual national cannot be trusted on matters of national importance — the Supreme Court rightly thinks that their loyalties are divided and they could well be batting for both teams.
If all this is true, then how come we have provincial governors, State Bank of Pakistan governors, heads of political parties and a large number of senior bureaucrats, who are dual nationals and continue to hold positions of great national importance. The Supreme Court judgment has established an important principle. Dual nationals cannot be trusted on matters that have significant implications for the state of Pakistan. If that is the case, could we ask the Supreme Court to take a suo-motu notice and disqualify all government servants, governors and heads of political parties, who hold dual nationalities, from the positions they currently hold? It makes no sense to stop an ordinary dual nationality petitioner from even taking up an important issue, while allowing the ruling elite with similar dual nationalities to rule Pakistan. One also hopes that the ECP will receive strength from the Supreme Court’s judgment and will find a foolproof method to filter out dual nationals from the forthcoming elections.
Naeem Sadiq
Published in The Express Tribune, February 16th, 2013.
&nbsp;]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/507803-LetterEditorxFinalFix-1360945190/507803-LetterEditorxFinalFix-1360945190.JPG" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Qadri refuses to give up Canadian nationality</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/507314/qadri-refuses-to-give-up-canadian-nationality</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/507314/qadri-refuses-to-give-up-canadian-nationality#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 14 Feb 13 11:14:53 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=507314</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[MQI chief says he will not fall prey to emotions regarding his Canadian citizenship.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Minhajul Quran International (MQI) chief Tahirul Qadri said that he cannot fall prey to emotions and give up his Canadian nationality, reported Express News on Thursday.

“I respect the Supreme Court's decision but if I travel with a Pakistani passport then I will have to wait for months to get any visa,” Qadri told the media while referring to the apex court's objection over his dual nationality.

He further said, “Dual nationality doesn’t stop one from casting a vote.” He also complained that the Supreme Court did not allow him to present arguments on his right to file a petition.

He said, “There is a difference between ‘elector and elected’. The constitution allows dual nationals to vote, hence, I can cast my vote. It bans people with dual nationality from contesting elections.”

Later during the day, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif blamed President Asif Ali Zardari of supporting Qadri. He said, “The attorney general’s support for Qadri is a clear indication of Zardari’s support."

The attorney general had advised the bench to focus on the petition instead of Qadri's character during the February 13 hearing.

During that hearing, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry dismissed Qadri's petition stating that he had failed to make a case for exercising discretionary jurisdiction by the court under Article 184(3) of the Constitution.

Qadri later complained that the court did not allow him to speak on his petition and instead continued to grill him on his dual nationality.

Qadri had filed the petition seeking dissolution of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on February 7. He claimed that mandatory hearing was not held before the chief election commissioner and other members of the ECP were appointed.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/507314-tahirulqadriafp-1360840423/507314-tahirulqadriafp-1360840423.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Dual nationals can’t meddle in internal politics: CJ</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/506585/dual-nationals-cant-meddle-in-internal-politics-cj</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/506585/dual-nationals-cant-meddle-in-internal-politics-cj#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 12 Feb 13 22:37:47 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[azam.khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=506585</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Says Supreme Court cannot let foreign national attack constitutional institutions.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[On the first day of the hearing, cleric Tahirul Qadri had come under judicial scrutiny after the apex court questioned his right as a stakeholder in Pakistan’s democratic system.


Things did not change much on Tuesday when the Supreme Court grilled the Minhajul Quran International (MQI) chief for “attacking a constitutional institution”.

Qadri, a famous cleric who also holds dual nationality, had moved the country’s top court seeking the reconstitution of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) via a quo-warranto petition weeks after suddenly emerging from Canada and shaking up the country’s political landscape.

The three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, remarked that his petition was filed under Article 184-3 and was not quo warranto, adding that a quo warranto does not come under their jurisdiction and Qadri should approach a high court before coming to the Supreme Court.

The stigma of dual nationality continued to haunt Qadri. The Supreme Court was not convinced he had the right to file the petition, but it did call his case a “unique” one.



“We cannot allow a dual citizen to interfere in internal politics in this way,” Chief Justice Chaudhry stated. “How can we accept your locus standi (right to appear), while no one from the real stakeholders sitting in Parliament has approached the court on this issue? Similarly none from the 180 million electors have ever shown grievance against the ECP.”

The chief justice said that Qadri’s loyalties come into question if he challenges the institutions of the country, despite being a Canadian national.

He said the court could not let a foreign national come to Pakistan at his will and “attack a constitutional institution” formed after years of efforts.

“You are touching an issue which attacks a constitutional institution.”

Calling him “Sheikhul Islam”, the chief justice said, “The doors of Parliament are closed for you and your interference in domestic politics is questionable.”

The bench observed that Qadri’s oath of allegiance to Queen Elizabeth was in direct conflict with Article 5 of the Constitution that requires loyalty to the state and obedience to the Constitution.

Justice Gulzar Ahmad, one of three judges hearing the case, asked Qadri, “How can we entertain a petition of a foreign nationality holder on strategic and defence related issues of the country?”



In response, Qadri said that he was not a foreigner and was originally a Pakistani. Being an elector or voter, he argued, he could question the functions of an institution that was responsible for holding elections.

Justice Gulzar Ahmad said that the apex court cannot show him any leniency on this issue because tomorrow a foreigner petitioner with divided loyalties could take the liberty of trying to interfere in important affairs of the country.

The MQI chief also submitted papers and a copy of his passport to the court to justify his right to file the petition. “If dual nationality divides loyalty, then the Constitution of Pakistan should take notice of it,” Qadri said.

The chief justice said, “The problem is that outside Pakistan you are a Canadian, while a Pakistani should be a Pakistani everywhere.”

In response, Qadri submitted a statement saying that he only used his Canadian passport for worldwide travelling. He contended that a Pakistani passport was problematic for him to visit other countries in a scholar’s capacity for various conferences and seminars.

Justice Chaudhry replied, “We also face similar problems but we did not avail the nationality of another country. We should be proud to be Pakistanis.”

When the chief justice questioned the basis on which Qadri had filed his petition, the MQI chief said that he was a Pakistani citizen and could renounce his citizenship any time. Without issuing a ruling yet, the case was adjourned and will resume the hearing today (Monday).


Published in The Express Tribune, February 13th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/506585-chiefjustice-1360703155/506585-chiefjustice-1360703155.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Dual nationality: ECP drops reference against 35 members of Punjab Assembly</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/503955/dual-nationality-ecp-drops-reference-against-35-members-of-punjab-assembly</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/503955/dual-nationality-ecp-drops-reference-against-35-members-of-punjab-assembly#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 07 Feb 13 11:08:36 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=503955</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ECP cannot take action based on informal accusations, says member ECP]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday dismissed a reference filed against the dual nationality of members of Punjab Assembly on account of lack of evidence, Express News reported.

During the reference heard by Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim, former ambassador Asif Ezdi, was asked to provide evidence to prove that the lawmakers held dual nationalities. He replied that he filed the petition based on media reports published about the intelligence agencies.

The member ECP told him that action could not be taken based on informal media news.

The ECP was also provided statements by 28 members of the Punjab Assembly saying they did not hold dual nationality.

Earlier, on Febraury 5, ECP had issued notices to 22 members of Punjab Assembly in relation to the dual nationality case and announced discussing the reference on February 7.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/503955-ecpx-1360234791/503955-ecpx-1360234791.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Dual nationality: ECP issues notices to 22 Punjab MPAs</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/502944/dual-nationality-ecp-issues-notices-to-22-punjab-mpas</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/502944/dual-nationality-ecp-issues-notices-to-22-punjab-mpas#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 05 Feb 13 11:06:44 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=502944</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Former ambassador Asif Ezdi reportedly filed a reference against dual national members of the provincial assembly.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued notices to 22 members of Punjab Assembly in relation to the dual nationality case, Express News reported on Tuesday.

According to sources, former ambassador Asif Ezdi filed a reference against the dual national members of the provincial assembly.

The commission will discuss the reference on February 7.

The MPAs who have been served notices include Rana Babar Hussain, Syed Raza Ali Gilani, Pir Kashif Ali Chisti and Raja Sahukat Aziz Bhatti.

The ECP also issued notices to two former MPAs.

Earlier, former MNA Shahnaz Sheikh submitted a list of 20 MNAs with dual nationality to the Supreme Court.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/502944-ecpx-1360062191/502944-ecpx-1360062191.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>LHC hears petition calling for ban on dual national bureaucrats, army men</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/498077/lhc-hears-petition-calling-for-ban-on-dual-national-bureaucrats-army-men</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/498077/lhc-hears-petition-calling-for-ban-on-dual-national-bureaucrats-army-men#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 23 Jan 13 14:47:24 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=498077</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Petitioner argues bureaucrats, army men deal with sensitive state information and settle abroad after service ends.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Lahore High Court on Wednesday admitted for regular hearing a petition that calls for banning bureaucrats and army men who have dual nationalities.

Citizen Khalid Mahmood filed the petition and submitted that both bureaucrats and military men during their service tenures dealt with highly sensitive issues and possessed secret information.

He argued after their retirement the dual national service men settled abroad, therefore, they were in a position to disclose sensitive information of Pakistan to the other countries.

The petitioner sought a ban on bureaucrats and army men carrying dual nationality and prayed to stop such officers immediately from functioning.

The court will resume hearing on March 20.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/498077-dualnationality-1358952116/498077-dualnationality-1358952116.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Open letter: Sheikh submits list of dual national MNAs to SC</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/497263/open-letter-sheikh-submits-list-of-dual-national-mnas-to-sc</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/497263/open-letter-sheikh-submits-list-of-dual-national-mnas-to-sc#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jan 13 06:22:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=497263</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[List includes names of Asim Hussain, Raza Haroon, Shahbeen Rizvi, Tayib Hussain, Fauzia Ejaz and Jameel Ashraf.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Shahnaz Sheikh, a former lawmaker of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), has submitted a list of 20 MNAs who possess dual nationalities to the Supreme Court.


Sheikh’s membership was suspended by the Supreme Court in October 2012 for holding Australian nationality while being a Pakistani national and a member of the National Assembly.

In a letter written to Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Sheikh requested the court to put the procedure – aimed at reimbursing benefits enjoyed by dual national MNAs – on hold until the final verdict of the case is announced.

The list included the names of Asim Hussain, Raza Haroon, Shahbeen Rizvi, Tayib Hussain, Fauzia Ejaz and Jameel Ashraf.

Sheikh told The Express Tribune that she wanted equal treatment. “If my membership can be suspended with a penalty, I want a similar verdict for other dual national lawmakers,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22nd, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/497263-dualnationality-1358835650/497263-dualnationality-1358835650.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Suspended PML-Q MNA submits list of 20 dual nationals to SC</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/496948/suspended-pml-q-mna-submits-list-of-20-dual-nationals-to-sc</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/496948/suspended-pml-q-mna-submits-list-of-20-dual-nationals-to-sc#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Jan 13 10:15:19 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=496948</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[MNA requests court to hold on benefit reimbursement process until final verdict.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Former Member of National Assembly (MNA) Shahnaz Sheikh has submitted a list of 20 MNAs with dual nationality to the Supreme Court, Express News reported on Monday.

Sheikh mentioned the names in a letter written to Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

Belonging to Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid (PML-Q), Sheikh’s membership was suspended by the Supreme Court in October 2012 for holding Australian nationality while being a Pakistani national and a member of the National Assembly.

In her letter, Sheikh requested the court to put the procedure - aimed at reimbursing benefits enjoyed by dual national MNAs - on hold until the case's final verdict is out.

The list included names of Asim Hussain, Raza Haroon, Shahbeen Rizvi, Tayib Hussain, Fauzia Ejaz and Jameel Ashraf.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/496948-dualnationality-1358763054/496948-dualnationality-1358763054.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Doubting loyalties of dual nationals</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/493859/doubting-loyalties-of-dual-nationals</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/493859/doubting-loyalties-of-dual-nationals#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jan 13 19:01:44 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[izharul.hassan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=493859</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Our Constitution bars dual nationals from holding public offices, but it doesn't classify them as disloyal or traitor.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Strange are the ways of our society which has become deeply steeped in focusing on the negative side of what is otherwise a positive development. The Supreme Court’s decision on dual nationality-holders in the past, in which it had rightly barred dual nationals from holding public office, is a case in point. It was, no doubt, a correct decision by the SC and all parties, including the MQM, strictly adhered to it and acted upon it.

But nowadays, a strange debate is taking place in the national press where some individual politicians and anchorpersons are deliberately questioning the loyalties of the foreign-based Pakistanis, a majority of whom have dual nationality. Actually, what these individuals fail to understand is that they are on the wrong side of the debate. There is no denying that our Constitution bars dual nationals from holding public offices, but it does not classify them as disloyal or traitors.

Here, one may refer to the Pakistan Citizen Act, which very clearly and precisely allows Pakistani nationals to hold the nationality of as many as 16 countries, including the UK and Canada, for reasons laid out in the Constitution. It is also a fact that Pakistan receives remittances of up to around $14 billion annually from overseas Pakistanis, including dual nationals. That’s why it was trumpeted that they should have the right to vote. Taking the oath of citizenship of another country does not mean that a person has renounced loyalty to his country of birth.

It may also be recalled here that, in the past, we have had a prime minister (Shaukat Aziz) who was a dual nationality holder. Anyway, why the then Election Commission did not disqualify him, or others with dual nationality at the time, is another debate altogether. What is ironic is that while a few spokesmen of the PML-N are talking against dual nationality holders for fear of Dr Tahirul Qadri, they fail to grasp the behind-the-scenes agreement under which their leader Nawaz Sharif, went to Saudi Arabia and remained there for over a decade. One would also call the statements made, at the time, by Mr Nawaz Sharif, who was not only critical of the government, but also showed mistrust of the judiciary. Interestingly, Mr Nawaz Sharif is the only leader who has a lifetime facility to stay in a country which does not have the policy of offering a nationality or multiple visas.

Moreover, leaders are being misquoted to misguide the nation and malign leaders of international repute. For example, the other day, when quoting Quaid-e-Azam as a British national, MQM leader Altaf Hussain was just making a reference to stop those biased interpreters who are terming dual nationals as ‘unfaithful’. It was aimed at making them realise that the dual nationality holders are as honest as the Father of the Nation was. To say that Mr Altaf Hussain “maligned” the Quaid-e-Azam is a distortion of the statement. Every one of us knows that before 1947, united India was governed by Britain and the British government had the authority to issue a passport. So it was geographical facts and the then-existing political situation to which Mr Altaf Hussain had referred.

At the end, it is my humble request to the media to play their due role on these sensitive issues in a very responsible and sensible way. Generally speaking, it has become our psyche as a nation to focus on the negative side of things and our media needs to put aside all such feelings and focus on the ‘glass half full’ rather than the ‘glass half empty’.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 15th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/493859-IzharulHassanNew-1358180941/493859-IzharulHassanNew-1358180941.JPG" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Details requested: SHC asks judges about nationality</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/493296/details-requested-shc-asks-judges-about-nationality</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/493296/details-requested-shc-asks-judges-about-nationality#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 13 Jan 13 04:58:59 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[naeem.sahoutara]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=493296</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Issues forms seeking particulars of the citizenship of judicial officers.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[In the footsteps of public representatives, the judiciary is looking within its own institution for those having dual nationality.


In this regard, the judicial officers performing their duties in the superior and subordinate courts have been asked to submit details as to whether they hold the nationality of only Pakistan or any other country as well.

Sources told The Express Tribune that the registrar of the Sindh High Court has issued forms, asking the judicial officers of the high court, including the judges, to furnish details of their nationality.

Fifteen days time has been given to submit the forms seeking details of nationality of the judges.

Meanwhile, the member of the high court’s inspection team also issued similar forms to all the judicial officers in the province through the concerned district and sessions judges.

“The district and sessions judges have also been directed to furnish details of their nationality and submit the forms to the high court through an inspection team member,” the sources added.



It is understood that the judiciary had come under fire after it declared lawmakers holding dual nationalities ineligible to hold public offices and disqualified.

Sources said that the move to collect judges’ details about their nationality was part of the judiciary’s efforts to keep a watchful eye within its own institute.

As part of these efforts, the Sindh High Court’s registrar had also directed all of its officers, whose annual income was Rs500,000 or more, to furnish the return of their income “electronically” for the tax year along with proof of deduction or payment of income tax and wealth statement as required under section 116 of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 13th, 2013.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/493296-dualnationality-1358053096/493296-dualnationality-1358053096.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Senate session: ‘Lift the lid on judges who hold dual nationality’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/482918/senate-session-%e2%80%98lift-the-lid-on-judges-who-hold-dual-nationality%e2%80%99</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/482918/senate-session-%e2%80%98lift-the-lid-on-judges-who-hold-dual-nationality%e2%80%99#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 22 Dec 12 05:04:54 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[zahid.gishkori]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=482918</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Senators urge amendment to Constitution to resolve dual citizenship issue.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Senators demanded on Friday legislation to prevent dual nationals from becoming judges – and called for the names of those judges who hold dual citizenship to be made public.


Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Farhatullah Babar took the lead in the upper house of parliament, asking, “If lawmakers can’t hold dual nationality then why there is no bar on judges of top courts with dual nationality?” The senator called attention to the issue after Law Minister Farooq H Naek informed the lawmakers that there was no bar on judges from holding dual citizenship.

“What is the rationale behind allowing dual nationals to become judges of superior courts? Why is there an exception in the case of judges?” demanded Senator Babar, who is also the presidential spokesperson.

The senator also sought an explanation from the law minister, saying that his reply in the Senate had raised serious questions that needed to be answered. He urged the government to clarify a million dollar question: “Is someone in the judiciary a dual national?”

Senator Babar also quoted Article 63 (1)(c) of the Constitution, which disqualifies a person from being a member of Parliament if he or she acquired the citizenship of any other country. At the same time, perhaps in a rather contradictory statement, the senator said he had no suspicions over judges’ dual nationality, saying, “They are all honourable men, do no wrong and are above suspicion”.

Senator Babar added: “I do believe that a judge who holds dual citizenship could not send an elected prime minister of Pakistan home – even we accept the top court’s verdict despite the fact that the content of the letter was against parliamentary norms,” he observed.

At this point, Senator Saeed Ghani observed that an amendment in the Constitution to resolve the dual nationality issue has become inevitable after the court issued such judgments. “When judges will give such judgments (disqualifying the prime minister) then there should be probe to find out if any judge is a dual national?” he demanded.

CNG prices

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Petroleum Dr Asim Hussain faced a sceptical Senate Chairman Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, after he failed to convince lawmakers that issues over fixing CNG prices were related to devising a consumer friendly formula. “If you can’t handle the situation then please inform the prime minister to resolve this matter of urgent public importance,” observed Bukhari.

Earlier, Hussain informed the house that the government has been unable to resolve the issue due to high demand for CNG amongst motorists. The point, the Senate chairman decided to have a meeting with leader of the house and leader of the opposition to constitute the committee to resolve the issue.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 22nd, 2012.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/482918-dualnationality-1356152615/482918-dualnationality-1356152615.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Senate question hour: ‘CSS guidelines bar dual national bureaucrats’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/480006/senate-question-hour-%e2%80%98css-guidelines-bar-dual-national-bureaucrats%e2%80%99</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/480006/senate-question-hour-%e2%80%98css-guidelines-bar-dual-national-bureaucrats%e2%80%99#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 15 Dec 12 06:47:11 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[zahid.gishkori]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=480006</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Under these guidelines, they must surrender other nationality.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The contentious dual nationality issue dominated the Senate question hour on Friday, after the government informed lawmakers that civil servants must surrender their other nationalities according to Central Superior Services (CSS) guidelines.


“Under rule 6(iii) of the CSS examination 2009 guidelines, after the candidate with dual nationality has been selected for the Civil Service Academy, he or she must inform the government and surrender his or her other nationality,” the Establishment Division informed the upper house of the Parliament in a written explanation.

Following the aforementioned explanation, Pakistan Peoples Party Senator Sughra Imam, who had questioned why dual nationals were ineligible for government service, complained the reply was unsatisfactory and requested Senate Chairman Nayyer Bokhari to fix the question for the next rota day for further explanation.

While deferring the dual nationality question, Bokhari expressed annoyance over the absence of ministers concerned in the Senate session. In the previous session, Interior Minister Rehman Malik had promised he would clarify Pakistan’s lack of dual-citizenship agreement with the US.

Meanwhile, Law Minister Farooq H Naek told The Express Tribune that the government is planning to consolidate the 22nd and 23rd amendments, both of which pertain to dual nationality, in order to develop consensus on the issue.

‘CCP ensuring free competition’

During the course of proceedings, Chairman of the Board of Investment (BoI) Saleem Mandviwala informed senators that the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) is ensuring free competition in all spheres of commercial and economic activity to enhance efficiency and protect consumers from cartelisation.

“We have taken action against 298 undertakings for cartelisation,” he told senators.

Providing details, the BoI chairman said CCP had imposed a Rs6.3 billion fine on cement manufacturers. Similarly, jute mills were fined for Rs23 million while Rs50 million fines was imposed on the poultry association, ghee mills association and banks over ATM cash withdrawal charges.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15th, 2012.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/480006-dualnationality-1355553815/480006-dualnationality-1355553815.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Fresh push: Govt crafts new plan for dual nationals</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/479606/fresh-push-govt-crafts-new-plan-for-dual-nationals</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/479606/fresh-push-govt-crafts-new-plan-for-dual-nationals#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 14 Dec 12 05:40:37 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=479606</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Considers a consolidated amendment to allow dual nationals to stand for elections.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[In a bid to resolve the dual nationality issue the government is now considering to replace the 22nd and 23rd Amendment known as the Dual Nationality Bill with a consolidated Amendment.


Under the new amendment dual nationality holders will be allowed to participate in elections. However, they would have to relinquish their foreign nationality before they take oath as a lawmaker.

Similarly, under the amendment civil servants who hold dual nationality would also be given a six-month time period to relinquish their foreign nationalities. Accordingly, an amendment in the bill would also be made for judges of all courts including the Supreme Court.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Farooq H Naek, however, said that the final decision on the bill would be reached after consultation with all the political parties.

“Reservations of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl regarding the bill will also be addressed amicably,” he maintained.



In response to a question the law minister said that the issue of dual nationals by birth would be addressed by the apex court. He then added that keeping in mind the sensitivity of the issue the Election Commission of Pakistan has already referred the matter to the Supreme Court.

It is speculated that the government deliberations come after its failure to muster support from its coalition partners on the issue. Awami National Party (ANP), a key ally of Pakistan Peoples Party categorically refused to vote in favour of the 22nd Amendment bill, a move which forced the government not to table the deferred bill in Senate.

However, Farroq Naek expressed confidence that the PPP-led government would succeed in getting the consolidated amendment passed through the Parliament.



The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) responded positively to the proposed idea. “We will welcome any move which can develop consensus on this contentious issue,” said MQM MNA Wasim Akhtar. He added that the new consolidated amendment will also aim to address any legal lacunas in the dual nationality bill.

ANP who first proposed the idea on both houses of the parliament however refrained from commenting unless a breakthrough was achieved. “Though I’m not in picture regarding this new move but things should move ahead,” said ANP MNA Bushra Gohar.

Meanwhile officials in the ministry on Thursday said that an informal committee likely to be headed by Senior Cabinet Minister Syed Khurshid Shah will be given the task to win support of the ANP and MQM leaders for the new bill.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 14th, 2012. ]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/479606-FarooqHNaek-1355428957/479606-FarooqHNaek-1355428957.JPG" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Dual nationality case: Farahnaz Ispahani ‘required’ to appear in court on Feb 4</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/479524/dual-nationality-case-farahnaz-ispahani-%e2%80%98required%e2%80%99-to-appear-in-court-on-feb-4-karachi-city</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/479524/dual-nationality-case-farahnaz-ispahani-%e2%80%98required%e2%80%99-to-appear-in-court-on-feb-4-karachi-city#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 13 Dec 12 21:40:45 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[rizwan.shehzad]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=479524</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Rehman Malik’s counsel seeks acquittal on grounds of ‘lack of evidence’.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Interior minister Rehman Malik has accused the Election Commission of Pakistan for taking action against him “with a prejudice mind” while moving an application for acquittal in a district and sessions court on Thursday.

On a directive of the apex court, the regional election commissioner of Karachi, Syed Mehmood Akhtar Naqvi, had filed complaints against Abdul Rehman Malik, Farahnaz Ispahani of the Pakistan People’s Party and Nadia Gabol of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement for filing false declarations along with their nomination papers for elections, to conceal their dual nationality.

Malik stated through his counsel, Muhammad Azhar, that the election commissioner had filed the complaint against him “with ill-will and prejudice mind” because a number of parliamentarians had resigned when they were specifically asked to file sworn affidavits that they were not holding any foreign nationality.

Malik stated that the election commission has not taken any action against them even some of them have been re-elected in the by-elections.

Malik’s counsel argues that the complainant has not brought any evidence on record which could impeach the content of declaration.

Azhar moved the application for acquittal in the case under section 265-K (power of court to acquit accused at any stage) of Criminal Procedure Code before the court.

Malik and Nadia Gabol were present during the hearing while the counsel for Farah Naz Ispahani filed an application for condonation of absence. The counsel stated that Ispahani was ill and under treatment at Maggie Glen, Lake City, of United States of America.

“Last chance is extended to the accused and the absence of the accused is being excused in the best interest of the justice,” said the district and sessions judge, South, Ahmed Saba, adding “the accused is required to appear before the court on the next date of hearing positively.”

The hearing has been put off till February 4.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 14th, 2012.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/479524-farahnazispahaniinp-1355434237/479524-farahnazispahaniinp-1355434237.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Constitutional lacuna: ECP in a fix over foreign-born Pakistani lawmakers</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/479314/constitutional-lacuna-ecp-in-a-fix-over-foreign-born-pakistani-lawmakers</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/479314/constitutional-lacuna-ecp-in-a-fix-over-foreign-born-pakistani-lawmakers#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 13 Dec 12 13:48:29 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[irfan.ghauri]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=479314</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Cases of ‘natural born’ Pakistani MNAs forwarded to SC for advice.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[With the government already in a fix over the issue of dual national lawmakers, a lacuna in the Constitution, regarding the validity of foreign-born Pakistanis contesting elections, could serve as another hurdle.

Pakistanis born in another country do not come under Article 63-1-c of the Constitution that bars dual-nationality holders from contesting elections for parliament and provincial assemblies.

According to the clause, a person shall be disqualified from being elected or chosen as, and from being, a member of Majlis-e-Shoora (parliament), if “he ceases to be a citizen of Pakistan, or acquires the citizenship of a foreign state”.

Pakistani citizens who were born in countries like the UK and the US are called natural born citizens of those countries and possess the right to obtain Pakistani citizenship if their parents are Pakistani nationals.

Under the Pakistani citizenship act, the children of Pakistani national parents have the right to be Pakistani citizens as well.

Members of the National Assembly Dr Doniya Aziz from the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid and Arif Aziz Sheikh adopted this plea recently when the Election Commission of Pakistan asked the lawmakers to furnish fresh affidavits declaring that they did not violate Article 63.

Interestingly, Aziz and Sheikh did not undertake an oath of citizenship of the countries they were born in.

The Supreme Court disqualified around a dozen lawmakers for holding dual nationalities in September this year and had asked the ECP to get fresh oaths from all lawmakers stating that they were not dual nationals.

Fifteen lawmakers, who failed to submit their affidavits, resigned after November 30, the last date of submission of the oaths.

ECP Secretary Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan confirmed receiving the cases of Aziz and Sheikh and said that since there is no legal provision available with the ECP on the matter, it has been forward to the Supreme Court.

When contacted, Law Minister Farooq H Naek admitted that there was a lacuna and added that he was not aware of any such precedent in this regard.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/479314-dualnationality-1355406405/479314-dualnationality-1355406405.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Sail-less: Dual nationality bill likely to stay on the shelf</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/478696/sail-less-dual-nationality-bill-likely-to-stay-on-the-shelf</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/478696/sail-less-dual-nationality-bill-likely-to-stay-on-the-shelf#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Dec 12 22:33:38 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[zahid.gishkori]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=478696</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Without ANP support, govt forced to remove bill from agenda of today’s Senate session.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The government, it seems, has been forced to backtrack on the 22nd Amendment Bill – better known as the dual nationality bill – after failing to muster enough support from its coalition partners.


The Awami National Party (ANP), a key ally of the Pakistan Peoples Party-led government, refused to support the bill. The government left the bill out of the agenda at today’s session of the Senate due to a lack of the required numeric strength in the house.

The bill, which paves the way for dual nationals to become members of parliament, was deferred during the last session as well.

“We will oppose the dual nationality bill until the government assures us of introducing the 23rd and 24th amendments,” said ANP Senator Zahid Khan.

During the last session, the PPP included the 23rd amendment in the agenda on the ANP’s demand but could not table it as it failed to even muster support for the 22nd Amendment Bill.

“My party has conveyed its concerns over the dual nationality bill to the government. We proposed two new bills to resolve the issue amicably,” Senator Khan said.

The government has been having a hard time winning a two-thirds majority (69 out of 104 votes) in the Senate in order to pass the 22nd Amendment. According to a PPP senator, there is “severe resentment” among PPP senators, who are 39 in number, over the issue.

“The PPP is only doing all this to please the MQM – the only party that favours the dual nationality bill,” said the senator, who chose not to be named.

On the other hand, PPP Senator Saeeda Iqbal claimed that her party had won the support of 71 senators and would get the dual nationality bill passed in the upcoming Senate session.

Regarding the delay, she said the PPP always believed in going ahead with complete consensus on all legislative business.



Wednesday’s session

The government has skipped the 22nd and 23rd amendments, and has, instead, added the Trade Organisation Bill, 2012, for legislative business, according to Wednesday’s (today) orders of the day, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune. 

According to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Senator Zaffar Ali Shah, however, it is obligatory for the government to forward the deferred bills first before introducing new ones.

“The PML-N will oppose the 22nd amendment tooth and nail in both houses of parliament,” Senator Shah said.

23rd and 24th amendment bills

Interestingly, last month, the government included the 23rd amendment on the Senate’s agenda at the behest of ANP. The amendment seeks a bar on civil servants from holding dual nationalities.

“Government servants in BPS-20 or equivalent and above … shall not hold dual nationality or citizenship of a foreign country,” reads the one-page bill, which is yet to be tabled in the upper house of parliament.

The ANP has also handed over the 24th amendment to the government, which seeks to bar judges from holding dual nationalities.

“It is necessary for the judges of lower and superior courts to not hold nationality or citizenship of any foreign country,” said Senator Zahid Khan. The ANP is said to have handed over the proposed bill to Law Minister Farooq H Naek last week.

However, Law Secretary Yasmin Abbasi remained clueless about the move. “This (the plan to introduce the 24th Amendment) is not in my knowledge,” she told The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 12th, 2012.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/478696-dualnationality-1355264757/478696-dualnationality-1355264757.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>We will oppose parliament's move to protect dual nationals: Fazlur Rehman</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/477013/we-will-oppose-moves-to-protect-dual-nationals-in-parliament-fazlur-rehman</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/477013/we-will-oppose-moves-to-protect-dual-nationals-in-parliament-fazlur-rehman#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 08 Dec 12 15:26:32 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=477013</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Says the LHC verdict on Kalabagh dam could create problems between provinces.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said on Saturday that his party has resolved not to support any move by the parliament to provide protection to dual nationals, Express News reported.

“We will not support any move that aims to protect membership of parliamentarians on the basis of dual nationality,” he told media.

He added that his party will not support any decision to delay the elections.

LHC verdict on Kalabagh will create problems

The JUI-F chief said that the Lahore High Court's decision on Kalabagh and the wording of the verdict does not look implementable.

“Apart from that, this [verdict] will create problems between provinces since resolutions of three provinces against the dam are still in place,” he said.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/477013-MaulanaFazlur_1735799875/477013-MaulanaFazlur_1735799875.JPG" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Dual nationals: NA speaker accepts PML-N MNA resignation</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/475391/dual-nationals-na-speaker-accepts-pml-n-mna-resignation</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/475391/dual-nationals-na-speaker-accepts-pml-n-mna-resignation#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 05 Dec 12 06:12:21 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=475391</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Dr Kumar resigned citing “personal reasons”.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza, has accepted the resignation of PML-N MNA Dr Araish Kumar.


A notification to this effect was issued by the National Assembly Secretariat on Tuesday and sent to the Election Commission Pakistan (ECP).

Dr Kumar, who failed to file a fresh declaration denying that he held dual nationality, resigned citing “personal reasons”.

On Monday, the ECP provided a list of over 1100 members including those who had not submitted the fresh declaration denying dual nationality.

The ECP had set a November 30 deadline for parliamentarians and MPAs  to submit affidavits bearing on their denial of holding dual nationalities.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5th, 2012.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/475391-dualnationality-1354687887/475391-dualnationality-1354687887.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Dual citizenship: Butter to appear in court Dec 18</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/475124/dual-citizenship-butter-to-appear-in-court-dec-18</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/475124/dual-citizenship-butter-to-appear-in-court-dec-18#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 05 Dec 12 02:52:44 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=475124</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Case against former PML-N MPA Chaudhry Waseem Qadir dismissed.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[District and Sessions Judge Nazir Ahmed Ganjana, on Tuesday, again issued a notice to former Pakistan Peoples Party MPA Amna Butter for December 18 on a petition filed by the Regional Election Commissioner Lahore seeking legal action against her for possessing dual citizenship.


The judge was hearing three petitions filed by the Regional Election Commissioner Lahore, the first against Amna Butter, the second against former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MPA Chaudhry Waseem Qadir for also possessing dual citizenship and the third against former Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid MPA Syeda Majida Zaidi for having a fake BA degree.

The judge dismissed the petition against Qadir after the petitioner’s counsel submitted that the Supreme Court had restored Qadir’s status. The counsel also submitted that Zaidi had filed a writ petition in the Lahore High Court regarding the matter and prayed that the proceedings be stayed till the final decision. The judge stayed proceedings against Zaidi till December 18 too.

The judge had, previously,  issued a notice to Butter but the notices could not be served as she was abroad.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5th, 2012.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/475124-dualnationality-1354675599/475124-dualnationality-1354675599.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Dual nationals: 3 MQM lawmakers reappointed to Sindh government</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/474086/dual-nationals-3-mqm-lawmakers-reappointed-to-sindh-government</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/474086/dual-nationals-3-mqm-lawmakers-reappointed-to-sindh-government#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 02 Dec 12 08:52:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=474086</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Haider Abbas Rizvi, Muhammad Ali Shah, Raza Haroon appointed special assistants and advisor to CM Sindh.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Three assembly members belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), who had resigned for holding dual nationality status, were made special assistants and advisor to the Chief Minister Sindh, Express News reported on Sunday.

Former MNA Haider Abbas Rizvi and Sindh minister for sports Muhammad Ali Shah were appointed special assistants to the Chief Minister Sindh while Sindh IT minister Raza Haroon was appointed Advisor to the Chief Minister Sindh.

All three have been, however, given powers equal to those of ministers.

Similar action was taken in the case of Interior Minister Rehman Malik when he was declared ineligible by the Supreme Court.

Malik was appointed advisor to the prime minister.

Earlier, six Sindh assembly members sent in their resignations to the Speaker after they failed to file affidavits with the election commission proving they were not dual nationals.

Rizvi was among 16 lawmakers who had failed to submit their affidavits regarding their dual nationality by  the deadline given by the election commission.

Chief Minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah exercised his constitutional powers outlined in Article 130 of the Constitution which allows the CM to nominate whomsoever he wishes as a minister.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/474086-mashup-1354438315/474086-mashup-1354438315.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Dual nationality: Six members of Sindh assembly resign</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/473817/dual-nationality-six-members-of-sindh-assembly-resign</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/473817/dual-nationality-six-members-of-sindh-assembly-resign#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 01 Dec 12 18:14:01 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=473817</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Among those who have resigned four are provincial minsters.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Sindh assembly members have sent in their resignations to the Speaker after they failed to file affidavits with the election commission proving they were not dual nationals, Express News reported on Saturday.

Express News correspondent Shah Waliullah said that among those who had filed their Sindh Minister for Finance Murad Ali Shah, Sindh IT minister Raza Haroon, Sindh minister for sports Mohammad Ali Shah, and Minister for Technical Education and Mines and Minerals Sadiq Memon, in addition to Sindh Assembly members Askari Taqvi and Abdul Moiz Siddiqui.

Haroon and Mohammad Ali Shah belong to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement while Murad Ali Shah and Sadiq Memon are members of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party.

Waliullah added that he spoke to the Provincial election commissioner Sonu Khan Baloch who confirmed that the MPAs had resigned and has received an official notification in this regard.

The Election Commission of Pakistan’s deadline to file affidavits expired on Friday, November 30. As many as 16 lawmakers from the national and provincial assemblies had failed to file their affidavits.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/473817-dualnationality-1354385448/473817-dualnationality-1354385448.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Dual nationality: 30 yet to file declaration: ECP</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/472039/dual-nationality-30-yet-to-file-declaration-ecp</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/472039/dual-nationality-30-yet-to-file-declaration-ecp#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 28 Nov 12 06:39:17 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=472039</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The ECP had earlier extended the deadline till November 30 for lawmakers to file their declarations.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Secretary, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Ishtiak Ahmed Khan has said that 30 lawmakers were yet to file fresh declarations stating that they do not hold dual nationalities.

The ECP had earlier extended the deadline till November 30 for lawmakers to file their declarations.

He added that the commission had referred the cases of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s Donia Aziz of and Pakistan Peoples Party’s Arif Aziz Sheikh to the Supreme Court for advice.

Both members contended that they had not acquired foreign nationality rather their parents were foreign citizens; therefore, Article 63 of the Constitution was not applicable to them.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2012.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/472039-Newsinbriefx-1354051304/472039-Newsinbriefx-1354051304.JPG" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Dual nationality: Special Senate session likely to pass three amendments</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/470922/dual-nationality-special-senate-session-likely-to-pass-three-amendments</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/470922/dual-nationality-special-senate-session-likely-to-pass-three-amendments#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 25 Nov 12 03:52:59 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[peer.muhammad]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=470922</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Amendments aim at allowing dual nationals to contest elections and barring them from govt service.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)-led coalition government is determined to pass three separate constitutional amendments: one aimed at allowing parliamentarians to hold dual nationality, and the others barring bureaucrats and judges from the same.


According to sources, the government will try its luck again soon after Ashura by calling a special Senate session to pass the 22nd, 23rd and 24th constitutional amendment acts.

The 22nd Constitutional Amendment Act seeks to amend Article 63 of the Constitution, which deals with the disqualification of Parliament members. If passed, the amendment would allow dual nationals to contest general elections and nullify recent Supreme Court orders to disqualify around a dozen dual national legislators.

The 23rd and 24th Constitutional Amendment Acts, proposed by the Awami National Party (ANP), aim at barring dual nationals from government service and being appointed to the country’s superior judiciary.



“A Senate session will be convened soon after 10th Muharram to pass the proposed amendments,” said presidential spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar, without providing an exact date for the special session. He maintained that the bills could not be passed in the previous sittings due to a shortage of just one vote, and the coalition hoped to secure the required majority in the next attempt.

Last week, the PPP and its coalition partners failed, twice, to pass two of the aforementioned amendments. The primary reason behind the failure was the absence of seven PPP and two ANP senators from the session, despite hectic efforts by the party leadership.

The PPP senators who did not turn up were Babar Awan, Faisal Raza Abidi, Sallaudin Dogar, Sahar Kamran Muddasir, Kamran Khan, Gulzar Ahmed Khan and his son Waqar Ahmed Khan.



According to sources privy to developments, President Asif Ali Zardari took serious notice of the matter and sought an immediate report. They added that the absent senators had personal reservations against the proposed amendments along with other party issues.

Babar refused to share any details on this matter with The Express Tribune, saying it was the party’s internal issue.

While talking to The Express Tribune, ANP Senator Haji Muhammad Adeel expressed optimism regarding the amendments. He claimed there was consensus among all coalition parties to pass the 24th Constitutional Amendment Act and was confident that all three amendments would be passed in the next session. He was unsure, however, of the bills’ fate in the National Assembly.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25th, 2012.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/470922-dualnationality-1353815541/470922-dualnationality-1353815541.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Senate proceedings: Govt fails to pass dual nationality bill again</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/470056/senate-proceedings-govt-fails-to-pass-dual-nationality-bill-again</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/470056/senate-proceedings-govt-fails-to-pass-dual-nationality-bill-again#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 23 Nov 12 03:55:58 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[peer.muhammad]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=470056</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Amendments required approval of 67 out of 104 senators, govt fell short of only three senators.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The ruling coalition fell flat on its face for the second time on Thursday after it failed to pass the Twenty-Second Amendment Bill, 2012, in Senate due to lack of numerical strength.


The Upper House had earlier put the Constitutional 22nd and 23rd Amendments Act 2012 on the agenda of the day and was planning on getting them passed.

The amendments required approval of 67 out of 104 senators.

However, the government fell short of only three senators, as eight Pakistan Peoples Party senators, including Babar Awan, Senator Waqar Ahmed and Faisal Raza Abidi, were absent due to personal reasons.

Chairman Senate Nayyar Hussain Bokhari chaired the proceedings that started with the question-hour and then took a 20 minutes break for prayers. But the session resumed after one and half hour as the government tried to gather the required members in a futile exercise.

When the session finally resumed, the chairman asked Law Minister Farooq H Naek to move the Constitutional 22th Amendment Bill but the minister requested the chair to defer it, without giving a reason.

Sensing the situation, the chair rushed to read out the prorogue order. The house was then prorogued amid throat-bursting protests by opposition senators, led by PML-N members, saying: “Shame, shame.”

Opposition lawmakers also tried to talk on the point of order, but the chairman walked off.

Under the proposed 22th Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2012, dual nationals of countries with which Pakistan has an agreement with cannot be barred from contesting elections.

The proposed 23th Constitutional Bill, 2012, tabled by the Awami National Party (ANP), proposes to bar senior government employees of BPS-20 and above from holding dual nationalities.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23rd, 2012.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/470056-dualnationality-1353642928/470056-dualnationality-1353642928.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Senate question hour: No dual-nationality agreement with US, says interior minister</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/469058/senate-question-hour-no-dual-nationality-agreement-with-us-says-interior-minister</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/469058/senate-question-hour-no-dual-nationality-agreement-with-us-says-interior-minister#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 21 Nov 12 04:49:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[zahid.gishkori]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=469058</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Rehman Malik tells Senate there is only mutual consent between the two countries over dual citizenship.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[As the government deferred the dual-nationality bill in Senate on Tuesday, Interior Minister Rehman Malik revealed that Pakistan has no dual-citizenship agreement with the United States.


“We don’t have a written dual-citizenship agreement with the US and there is only a mutual consent between the two states,” Malik said.

The government did not move the 22nd Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2012, due to lack of quorum in the House on Tuesday.

Though the bill was not moved, Law Minister Farooq H Naek tabled a standing committee report on the draft of the bill for 22nd Amendment.

Currently, any person who holds dual nationality cannot contest elections for national or provincial assemblies. Under the proposed amendment bill, dual nationals of countries with which Pakistan has an agreement with are exempt from any such bar.

However, Senator Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain pointed out that Pakistan has no such agreement with the US. The interior minister endorsed Chaudhry Shujaat’s statement, adding that Pakistan, indeed, has also no such written deal with two other countries, including Sweden. Senate Chairman Nayyar Hussain Bokhari directed the concerned department to explain the matter further, while Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Sughra Imam sought names of states with which Pakistan has dual citizenship agreements.



Dual nationals cannot join armed forces

Minister for Defence Syed Naveed Qamar informed the Upper House of Parliament that dual nationals cannot join the armed forces of Pakistan.

“Persons holding dual nationality are not eligible for appointment in the armed forces of Pakistan,” stated a written reply tabled by the defence minister before the Senate. Dual nationals are required to surrender other nationalities on their final selection in the military.

Meanwhile, in response to a written question posed by JUI-F Senator Talha Mehmood, Minister of State for Defence Sardar Saleem Haider Khan told the House that the Airport Development Agency, along with its employees, has been merged into the Civil Aviation Authority.

Furthermore, Interior Minister Malik said 478 NADRA registration centres and offices are currently operating in the country, and added that registration centres in Fata are being rehabilitated and will be made functional soon.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21st, 2012.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/469058-rehmanmalikPID-1353474071/469058-rehmanmalikPID-1353474071.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Dual nationals cannot join armed forces of Pakistan: Defence minister</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/468613/dual-nationals-cannot-join-armed-forces-of-pakistan-defence-minister</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/468613/dual-nationals-cannot-join-armed-forces-of-pakistan-defence-minister#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 20 Nov 12 13:18:50 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[zahid.gishkori]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=468613</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[PPP senator poses question in Senate, Defence Minister Syed Naveed Qamar tables written reply.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Federal Minister for Defence Syed Naveed Qamar informed the Upper House of Parliament on Tuesday that dual nationals cannot join the armed forces of Pakistan.

“Persons holding dual nationality are not eligible for appointment in the armed forces of Pakistan,” said a written reply tabled by the defence minister in the Senate.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Sughra Imam had asked if dual nationality holders could join the armed forces.

Dual nationals are required to surrender other nationalities on their final selection in the military.

Currently, any person who holds dual nationality cannot contest elections for national or provincial assemblies. There are around 16 countries, including the United States and the UK, with which Pakistan has signed dual nationality agreements.

The government recently tabled a standing committee report, in the Senate, on a draft of the 22 constitutional amendment bill allowing dual nationals to run for elections.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/468613-dualnationality-1353416190/468613-dualnationality-1353416190.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Amendment Act: Draft of dual nationality bill tabled</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/468464/amendment-act-draft-of-dual-nationality-bill-tabled</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/468464/amendment-act-draft-of-dual-nationality-bill-tabled#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Nov 12 22:50:15 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=468464</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Currently, any person who holds dual nationality cannot contest elections for national or provincial assemblies.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The government tabled a standing committee report on a draft of the 22 constitutional amendment bill allowing dual nationals to run for elections, amid strong protest by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Awami National Party in the Upper House on Monday.


The bill was passed by a Senate panel on law and justice earlier in the day.



The move is seen as an attempt by the government to save dual nationality holding lawmakers from possible disqualification as the Election Commission’s November 30th deadline for lawmakers to submit their affidavits that they hold only Pakistani nationality draws nearer.

The amendment, titled the 22nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2012 aims to substitute a paragraph of Clause (1) of Article 63 of the Constitution with: “He ceases to be a citizen of Pakistan or has acquired the citizenship of a foreign country except a state with which the federal government has a dual nationality arrangement under the law before or after the commencement of the constitutional 22nd Amendment Act, 2012.”

Currently, any person who holds dual nationality cannot contest elections for national or provincial assemblies. Under the proposed amendment bill, dual nationals of countries with which Pakistan has an agreement with are exempt from any such bar. There are around 16 countries, including the United States and the UK, with which Pakistan has signed dual nationality agreements.

The draft bill, if approved, will give cover to sitting members as well.

Interestingly, the tabling of the report was not mentioned in the agenda of the day and the abrupt move provoked opposition lawmakers who staged a walkout in protest, as well as government ally, the ANP.

“I am surprised and concerned that the committee met just once and failed to evolve consensus on the bill. And the bill cleared by the committee today, with my dissent note, is different from the one presented by the committee chairman before the house now,” claimed PML-N Senator Zafar Ali Shah.

He said the original bill was the one that was referred by the house to the committee a few months back. It was tabled by the law minister in the House.

ANP Senator Haji Adeel also objected rushing through the proposed legislation, saying, “If you run the house as a dictator then why don’t you bring [former president Gen Pervez] Musharraf again”

He also termed it against the rules that a government legislation was presented on a private members’ day.

Resolution for journalists’ protection

Meanwhile, the house also passed a resolution condemning the murder of a journalist in Panjgur, Balochistan, and asked the government and security agencies to provide security to the media.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 20th, 2012.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/468464-islamabadnati_1735799875/468464-islamabadnati_1735799875.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Constitutional compliance: High court orders Rana Asif be de-notified as MPA</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/466914/constitutional-compliance-high-court-orders-rana-asif-be-de-notified-as-mpa</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/466914/constitutional-compliance-high-court-orders-rana-asif-be-de-notified-as-mpa#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 16 Nov 12 23:49:23 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=466914</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Asif cannot hold seat on grounds of being a dual national, says LHC chief justice.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Lahore High Court Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Friday held that former Punjab finance minister Rana Asif Mahmood was disqualified from holding his provincial assembly seat because of his dual nationality.


Justice Bandial ordered the Election Commission to de-notify Asif as a Punjab assembly member. The justice issued the order on a petition filed by Faisal Ilyas Sadiq who had sought the disqualification of Asif because of his dual nationality.

Asif was elected an MPA in the 2008 general elections against one of the seats reserved for minorities. He was appointed as the provincial finance minister in 2012. He had resigned in June over the issue of dual nationality two days before provincial budget was to be presented.

The chief justice, on August 3, had suspended Asif as an assembly member.

The petitioner’s counsel Saiful Mulook had submitted that the apex court had already suspended the memberships of many parliamentarians on the grounds of holding dual nationality.

He said that Asif was a Canadian national and according to  Article 63 (1) of the Constitution he could not hold the assembly seat on the grounds of his dual nationality.

Asif’s counsel had said that the MPA was not a citizen of Canada but rather enjoyed the status of national. He said the constitutional bar on parliamentarians from holding dual nationality did not apply to his client. Mulook said that the MPA was trying to delay the matter. He said it was clear that Asif held an overseas identity card, which was issued only to those Pakistani citizens who held the passport of another country. He had produced a copy of the card in court.

The petitioner said Asif was a businessman in Canada but got elected an MPA by ‘posing’ as a Christian. He said his identity card listed him as Muslim.

He said that NADRA records also list his three children as Muslim, however, his wife was listed as a Christian.

Asif said that he was a permanent resident of Canada but not a Canadian national. Asif’s counsel said that the MPA had been wrongly listed as a Muslim in NADRA’s records due to a clerical error which had been corrected.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17th, 2012.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/466914-ranaasifmahmood-1353109474/466914-ranaasifmahmood-1353109474.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Dual nationality: LHC disqualifies PML-N MPA Rana Asif</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/466710/dual-nationality-lhc-disqualifies-pml-n-mpa-rana-asif</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/466710/dual-nationality-lhc-disqualifies-pml-n-mpa-rana-asif#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 16 Nov 12 07:25:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=466710</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Asif disqualified for holding dual nationalities – Canadian and Pakistani.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday disqualified Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) MPA Rana Asif from holding a seat in the Punjab Assembly while hearing a dual nationality case against him, Express News reported.

Chief Justice (LHC) Umar Ata Bandial was hearing a petition filed by a Lahore-based advocate against Asif for holding dual nationalities – Canadian and Pakistani.

The petitioner had presented relevant record before the court and the hearings were held for the last three months.

Rana Asif’s membership had been suspended on August 3 on the petition of Faisal Ilyas Sadiq.

Sadiq’s counsel, Saiful Malook, had pleaded that the court should suspend the membership of Asif as he is a Canadian national.

Article 63(1) C bars any person who is a dual nationality holder from representation in any legislature of the country, he said.

Asif’s counsel was quick to rebut that Asif was a Canadian citizen but not a Canadian national and therefore under the said article of the constitution could not be disqualified.

Malook had said that the MPA had an overseas identity card which could only be issued if Asif was a foreign country’s passport holder. He had also produced a copy of the card before the court.

The minority issue

Asif’s religious affiliations had also challenged in the court.

Malook had alleged that Asif had pretended to be a Christian to be elected to a minority seat. Malook had pointed out that in the overseas identity card Asif had declared himself as a Muslim.

He further said that all his children were also Muslims, according to the records at Nadra. Only his wife was registered as a Christian, he had said.

Asif’s counsel had told the court that his client was a Christian. He had said that his client had been mistakenly identified on the overseas identity card as a Muslim.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/466710-ranaasifmahmood-1353050294/466710-ranaasifmahmood-1353050294.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Dual nationality: Affidavit deadline for lawmakers extended</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/464846/dual-nationality-affidavit-deadline-for-lawmakers-extended</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/464846/dual-nationality-affidavit-deadline-for-lawmakers-extended#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 13 Nov 12 05:20:18 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=464846</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ECP asks lawmakers to file status by November 30.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Election authorities on Monday gave a gracious concession to lawmakers to file affidavits declaring their dual nationality status by the end of this month.


The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) not only extended the deadline for members of the national parliament and provincial assemblies till November 30, it also relaxed directives for those who had filed unattested affidavits without stamp of oath commissioners.

Earlier this year in September, the Supreme Court had disqualified around a dozen legislators for being dual nationals and had directed the ECP to secure  fresh oaths from every member that he/she fulfils the requirement of Article 63 of the Constitution which bars dual nationals from becoming lawmakers.

After extension of the deadline that had expired on November 9, if any member of the National Assembly or provincial assembly is declared disqualified for failing to submit such an affidavit on dual nationality, no by-polls will be possible on that seat if it is vacated after November 15.

Under Article 224 of the Constitution, in case any seat falls vacant within 120 days of expiry of the term of an assembly, no by-polls can be held while the five-year term of current assemblies will expire by mid-November.

The new data released by the commission states that there are a total of 89 members who have so far not filed their affidavits.

This number has decreased from over 200 members who were yet to file these affidavits two-days back when the previous deadline had expired. Many leading parliamentarians including the prime minister filed their affidavits after the expiry of the previous deadline.

Polling stations increased 

The election commission, during a meeting on Monday, also decided to increase the number of polling stations for the next general elections to facilitate voters.

ECP Secretary Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan, provincial election commissioners and senior officers of the election body, told reporters in a briefing that there were around 68,000 polling stations across the country in 2008 and the number will be increased for the coming polls.

In Punjab the number of polling stations will be increased from 37,000 to 40,000, in Sindh from 13,500 to 18,000 and in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) from 10,000 to around 11,000 — while the number for Balochistan is under process.

Special magistrate powers to DRO, POs 

The commission also decided that non-judicial officers deputed as district returning officers would enjoy the powers of special magistrates after the announcement of the election schedule till the completion of the election process.

Similarly, the presiding officers at every polling station will enjoy the powers of a magistrate for three days – including a day before and a day after the polling day – to ensure that they can make the electoral process credible and intervention free. This time, the ECP officials said that officers of grade 17 and above will be deputed as presiding officers.

No transfers of election staff after Dec 31

More than 600,000 government servants – who will be selected for election duties and given training – would not be transferred by the administration without approval from the ECP.

No delimitation in Karachi

ECP’s secretary told reporters that the Sindh government has not taken the required steps to make delimitation of constituencies in Karachi as asked by the Supreme Court some eight months back.

The court had ordered to bring delimitations in constituencies where there is a polarisation leading to ethnic problems and law and order situation.

However, the provincial government has informed the ECP that it cannot do so unless a new census is held, the ECP secretary said.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13th, 2012. ]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/464846-dualnationality-1352783971/464846-dualnationality-1352783971.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Dual nationality: Parliamentarians given till November 30 to submit affidavits</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/464436/dual-nationality-parliamentarians-given-till-november-30-to-submit-affidavits</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/464436/dual-nationality-parliamentarians-given-till-november-30-to-submit-affidavits#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 12 Nov 12 07:29:15 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=464436</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[By-elections in Sindh, Punjab postponed till December 4 due to Muharram.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), granting reprieve to members of the national and provincial assemblies,  gave a November 30 deadline for submitting dual nationality affidavits, Express News reported on Monday.

The ECP also postponed the by-elections in Sindh and Punjab till December 4.

The elections were postponed due to Muharram after a plea was filed in this regard.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim was presiding the meeting of the commission where the dates were set and the request for an extension was approved.

Additional Secretary Election Commission Afzal Khan said that the members of the parliament had gone for Hajj and that is why the deadline was pushed further.

Those members who have not submitted attested affidavits were issued directives again and will be written letters to as well.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/464436-dualnationality-1352705009/464436-dualnationality-1352705009.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>NA starts session after expiry of dual nationality deadline</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/464341/na-starts-session-after-expiry-of-dual-nationality-deadline</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/464341/na-starts-session-after-expiry-of-dual-nationality-deadline#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 12 Nov 12 05:40:39 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[qamar.zaman]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=464341</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[One-month deadline given by ECP to lawmakers to submit affidavits just expires.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[As lawmakers gather to open the 47th session of the lower house Monday (today), the election commission is also due to huddle earlier in the day to discuss the contentious issue of lawmakers holding dual nationality.


The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had earlier sent notices to all members of national and provincial assemblies on October 9, giving a one-month deadline to affirm that they did not possess nationalities of countries other than Pakistan, said a senior ECP official.

The NA session is coincidently being held days after the expiry of the deadline by the ECP, which is still waiting to hear from 75 lawmakers.

“It is suspected that 90 per cent of office holders, who have failed to submit declarations, hold dual nationality,” a senior ECP official said while talking to The Express Tribune.

Under the Citizenship Act of 1951, Pakistanis holding multiple nationalities are prohibited from running for public office, contesting elections or joining the military. Eleven lawmakers were disqualified by the Supreme Court on 20th September for not disclosing dual nationality status when taking office.

Responding to a question, the ECP official said, “It is likely that lawmakers will be given an opportunity to appear before the commission to justify their position, since no one can be condemned unheard.” The official added that consequences will not come in the form of mere de-notification from the seat, rather, those who fail to provide satisfactory evidence would be disqualified.

The punishment for hiding dual nationality status while assuming office includes a sentence of up to three years, a fine, or both, said the official. “Even a mere ‘symbolic’ sentence of 30 seconds (as in the case of former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani) can disqualify a national or provincial assembly member and bar him/her from contesting future elections.”

On the agenda

The house, according to National Assembly Secretariat, is scheduled to hold a debate on the country’s law and order situation, particularly with reference to Balochistan, Karachi and Gilgit-Baltistan.

In addition, the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2012 may also be introduced in the lower house. Today’s session will be the first after the Supreme Court verdict on the Asghar Khan case, which was about the distribution of money among  politicians during the 1990 elections and an election cell in the presidency.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 12th, 2012.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/464341-islamabadnati_1735799875/464341-islamabadnati_1735799875.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item>	</channel>
                </rss>
