Dual nationality: SC suspends Ispahani’s NA membership

The court observed that Ispahani cannot be a part of proceedings in the National Assembly.


Azam Khan/web Desk May 25, 2012

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan suspended MNA Farahnaz Ispahani’s membership of the National Assembly while hearing the dual nationality case on Friday, Express News reported.

The court observed that Ispahani, wife of former ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani, cannot be a part of proceedings in the National Assembly.

The Supreme Court expressed its concern over contents of the US citizenship document, according to which a person has to renounce citizenship of the country they were born in when they attain US citizenship.

Also, when a person swears in for the US citizenship, they need to be loyal to the US and if needed, they have to take part in war and also perform their duty as non-combatant. The court said that this also means that Ispahani could be given the task of spying.

The court questioned why she had concealed this fact before sitting in the National Assembly, as she “might have collected secret information regarding sensitive matters, particularly defence and foreign issues.”

Rehman Malik’s lawyer failed to produce any evidence of renouncement of Malik’s UK citizenship.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had issued notices to Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Ispahani, as both of them had failed to appear during the last hearing.

In today’s hearing, Malik requested for more time from the court by filing an application through his lawyer.

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 Ispahani possessed US nationality.

COMMENTS (101)

Huzaifa | 11 years ago | Reply We should admit that we are a weak democracy. We are no better than Uk and USA in pursuing democratic norms. Saeeda Warsi and Lord Nazeer Ahmed are two glowing examples that even the best democratic countries do not bar their citizens to hold dual nationality. The malady that our courts have is not curable; they want to prove more loyal than the king. Here is another example Arnold Schwarzenegger is a citizen of Austria and US. He was elected and served as Governor of California, one of the larger states of US.
Sehrish | 11 years ago | Reply When it comes to money, the biggest foreign exchange earnings of Pakistan are the monies sent by the foreigners from the West. In Middle East there is no question of nationality but in the West many obtain dual nationality so they can get govt and sensitive jobs. We are Pakistani to provide all the money and even can vote. Our achievements are published as Pakistan’s glorification. Yet we cannot contest elections while keeping dual citizenship. The more clever politicians like Nisar do not get other nationality but have their family members do it. In case they need to get out, their family can bring them to the foreign country. A simple principle, anybody who can vote and satisfies age and basic qualifications can contest elections in every other country. Why is CJ waking up in the fourth year of the NA? All nomination papers were examined by the judges who headed Election Commission in Mush’s rule. Why those judges are are not being brought to justice for not doing their job?
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