Four newly-elected senators already surrendered dual nationality: ECP

Spokesperson says affidavits submitted by candidates were forwarded to returning officers, appellate tribunal

ISLAMABAD:

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said on Tuesday that the returning officers had been apprised of dual nationality of Senate candidates.

The list of nominees and an affidavit noting that they had surrendered their dual nationality was submitted to the ECP on the eve of the last day of scrutiny, the commission said, adding that the information was immediately forwarded to the returning officers (RO) who had completed initial scrutiny of the documents.

A spokesperson for the commission pointed out that the appellate tribunals, comprising high court judges, had not raised any objection to the ROs’ decisions.

The revelation comes a day after the Supreme Court stopped ECP from issuing a notification regarding the election win of four senators over their dual nationalities.

Three of these newly elected senators are from the PML-N, while one is associated with the PTI. The list includes Sarwar Chaudhry, Haroon Akhtar, Nuzhat Sadiq and Sadia Abbasi.

During court proceedings on Monday, the ECP secretary informed the three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar that the interior ministry had provided the data on the senators-elect who were holding dual nationality.

The next hearing is scheduled for March 8.