Dual nationality: Go to the ECP, bench tells petitioner

SHC avoids adding to political confusion.

KARACHI: The hearing of a constitutional petition seeking the disqualification of elected representatives with dual nationality was put off indefinitely on Monday by a division bench of the Sindh High Court’s Justice Maqbool Baqar and Justice Imam Bux Baloch.

At the outset of hearing of a petition filed by Syed Muhammad Iqbal Kazmi, a representative of the NGO Human Rights Commission for South Asia, the bench observed that there was already too much political confusion in the country and the instant petition would only contribute negatively.

The petitioner pleaded that court should not take into consideration the extraordinary circumstances which, “were created by the so-called illegally elected persons.”

Seeking the hearing of his petition and appealed for action to be taken against elected senators, MNAs and MPAs who possess dual nationality, he said that, “they (legislators) have trampled the constitution and violated the law.”

He said that there were at least 35 elected representatives who had dual nationality across the country.

The bench observed that petitioner has heavily relied upon the data of news television channels and asked the petitioner to take advantage of the law regarding ‘access to information’ and gather relevant information from the Election Commission of Pakistan.

The petitioner agreed to the suggestion and said he would approach ECP and other authorities in order to get the petition decided at the earliest. The bench then adjourned hearing indefinitely.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th, 2012.