SC seeks report on parliamentarians with dual nationalities
The court reissued notices, summoning Senator Rehman Malik and Member of National Assembly (MNA) Farahnaz Ispahani, as both of them failed to appear.
The attorney general appeared on behalf of Malik, however, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said that Malik should appear personally and brief the court whether he holds dual nationality or not.
The court was hearing a petition filed by Mahmood Akhtar Naqvi, who had alleged that Chaudhry Zahid Iqbal, Chaudhry Iftikhar Nazir and Malik held British nationalities, while Farahnaz Ispahani, the spouse of former Pakistan ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani, possessed US nationality.
The hearing of the case was adjourned till Thursday.
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@ salmonrusty, Please also compare their politicians with Pak.politicians!
Everyone knows who is behind such petitions, who are hiring people to file petition against PPP leaders. They want the return of 90’s era. Such a cowardice act, if they don’t have heart to come face to face, they should avoid such cheap tactics. Farahnaz Ispahani is a Pakistani not from today but since her birth and role and sacrifices of Abu-al Hassan Ispahani for this country is shut up call for this political hoodlum. You can’t spit on the moon and if you will do this be ready to receive it again on your own face. Mr. Mahmood Akhter Naqvi you will be certainly on the payroll of your masters that are just pulling your strings while sitting behind. You can not malign image of such high profile personalities by such cheap tactics.
It is just a non sense and waste of public money to file such petitions but it seems courts also like such controversies. I am sure soon such petitions will be filed against President, PM and all the ministers of PPP. It is just witch hunting of PPP leaders. Farahnaz Ispahani is far more credible and has a history of working for this country but who is the petitioner no one knows. The mushroom growth of such politically paid slums is posing threats to our national integrity. Maligning and mudslinging of national stature leader is on the rise and courts are equally responsible for this. After planned targeting of Hussain Haqqani, now the sacred cows are looking to fix Farahnaz Ispahani. Enough is enough, stop this political targeting of PPP leaders. If this is the standard of your justice, forgive me, me lord I don’t accept you laws and verdicts.
I don’t know what’s wrong with the people. Why they come up with false allegations to malign those names which are clean handed throughout their political career, even no one can point a finger on them in any matter. The dual nationality case against Farahnaz Ispahani is hilarious; it is tantamount to make mockery of nation. One should not forget that Farahnaz Ispahani is not only the parliamentarian or wife of ex-ambassador Hussain Haqqani but grand daughter of Abu-al-Hassan Ispahani, the close aide of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who rendered countless sacrifices during the struggle for independent Pakistan. He was the one who led the first delegation of Pakistan to Saudi Arabia. Before mudslinging of such reputable and national heroes, why we forget that the country we are living is the result of those sacrifices. Farahnaz Ispahani is hundred thousand times patriot and Pakistani than these paid goons.
@Abid P Khan - Thanks for sharing the info. :)
While submitting papers for contesting elections, election law states that the person in question must not be holding any other nationality.
If somebody takes a petition to SC then it is heard.
Pity the stupid mind that thinks the supreme court will investigate & pass judgement by itself on murder cases as if it were an investigator, without any constitutional petition being filed for them in the first place.
Pity the conniving mind that wants their class of people to be spared just because there are people even worse than them.
@Sonya: He is paid by PML N for all these stupid issues...look how openly, Asif Saeed Khosa who was appointed by PML N, in his additional six page note asked people to stand up to implementation of our order...they have become politicians...yes i being ex bureaucrat personally knows many with dual nationality..but, what if CJ himself has one too?
@Mirza: and what about High Court Judges who have dual nationality? i can point one..
Parliamentarian who hold duel Nationality, infect ground reality speaks itself majority ANP n Baluchistan parliamentarian probably hold Iranian, Afganistani n U.K. Citizenships or at least permanent resident status of these states. Now, if we look at Federal Cabinet (as it's pointed out Mr. Malik hold U.K n Mrs. Haqanni USA) resident and/or citizenships respectively. We are missing many more such as Federal Finance Minister, within MQM clans etc etc. Question is how n who will question their Status? Justice needs to be for all, not selective.
Was there a law against this in Pakistan when these parliamentarians were elected? If not why was this case even admitted?
Second point is Pakistan equally squeamish when it receives the 13 billion dollars in remittances?
@aamir riaz: I agree with you as it should be fair and across the board not selective justice targeting only the elected leaders not the paid govt servants. In addition, since when the SC has assumed the powers to make policies? This is not a legal question but a policy mater. Thanks and regards, Mirza
This is a non-issue. It is not illegal to have more than one nationality. The U.S. and Canada are at least two countries which I am aware of, which permit it's citizens to hold other passports. I know of French speaking Canadians ( referred to as Francophones ) who hold French citizenship; among them was a former leader of the Liberal Party.
The holding of another citizenship does not make you any less loyal to any country, your own or your adopted. The foreign remittances which Pakistan depends on, comes from it's citizens with dual nationalities.
@ufaquarian: "@ Mirza – as usual your SC bashing continues without any meat in ur argument. "
He is a spin-doctor on PPP's payroll. Not much else is expected of him.
A very good step, nation is waiting for a decision
Lets not forget our honourable ambassador in the UK.
is it a new game tactics or the court will fix this matter? imran khan is against it, just imagine why. one should have a policy in this regard. it should not be treated as an act of mistrust on Pakistanis who has double nationality. this policy should be for all Pakistanis not only for politicians but also for people holding all important positions in all institutions.
@ Mirza - as usual your SC bashing continues without any meat in ur argument.
And what about the public servants including the army personnel (r) and their children. Your honor! do you know how many of Pakistan's foreign service employees have got foreign nationalities by virtue of their foreign postings' exposure?? By the way courts' budgets are not required parliament's approval so use some resources to commission research on these issues which are of fundamental importance. You will need to take some real initiatives to win back the hearts of this nation than just quoting Khalil Jibran in your verdicts.
Now that the PM is convicted and till his appeal is heard, the SC can pay attention on the killings all over Paksitan particularly in Balochistan. The SC can leave the small crimes for the lower courts and start hearing the Asghar Khan's case before the third decade commences. When would BB, Taseer murder cases and Mush's high treason would see a single day in a high court let alone the SC?