LAHORE:
Interior Minister Rehman Malik has been attempting to conceal the fact that he still enjoys British citizenship, sources familiar with the matter revealed on Wednesday. They added that the minister does not possess an officially signed and stamped declaration of renunciation, considered as formal evidence.
Malik’s counsel M Azhar Chaudhry told The Express Tribune that his client had submitted an application regarding the citizenship renunciation on April 25, 2008 through mail along with a cheque for £229 as fee. However, he added, an officially signed and stamped copy has not been returned to his client so far.
Sources further revealed that Malik left for the UK from Islamabad on a ‘red’ passport.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 31st, 2012.
COMMENTS (51)
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Its a non issue. Havng had premiers such as Moeen Q and Shaukat Aziz, what are we talking about. I think our money does not hurt, our vote does.
@Mirza...
Your concern is justice for all across the board... not to deal with a particular subject, while others remain unattended (as you say) for long time. The fact is our courts; lower, higher, supreme, are flooded with pending litigations awaiting processing/decisions, since years. Statistics do come up from time to time. Reasons behind this state of affairs are various; and cannot be covered in this discussion.
Under the philosophy that you are advancing, any culprit affected under a court decision can raise similar objection: "why the court has taken up my case, while other similar cases are lying unattended". Is such a plea maintainable in our legal system? Or elsewhere in international legal sytem?
Oh well, to enjoy UK, he does not need the passport anyways. He has enough money and masters to take care of him always. Passports are for common people.
@MA Khan: Thanks a lot Khan Sahib for being nice and polite. What is wrong in asking the parliament or election commission to define the law and then implement it across the board on the same day and time? Why is the SC only hyper against HH and now his family? The definition of justice is it should be just and should appear to be just. This behavior of PCO Judges does not pass the smell test. The highest constitutional and appeals court of the country should not be acting as the lowest court and a magistrate. Thanks and regards, Mirza
Pakistan Judiciary is trying to become the custodian of democracy. The decision that should be made on the floor of house are made on the table of Judiciary. By striking dual nationality of Farah Naz Ispahani court proved totally partial and biased. They should have left this decision to Parliamentarians. The current proceedings are focused on Article 63(1) (c) of the Constitution. Applied for the first time ever in the March 2012 Senate election, it says, “A person shall be disqualified from being elected or chosen as, and from being, a member of Parliament, if he ceases to be a citizen of Pakistan or acquires the citizenship of a foreign state.” It would be interesting to see how the court interprets the ambiguity around the transitive verb ‘acquires’ in this case. And after that bridge is crossed, the key question would be of the supremacy of parliament and the role of the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairman Senate as custodians of their respective houses as Article 63 (2) states: “If any question arises whether a member of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) has become disqualified from being a member, the Speaker or, as the case may be, the Chairman shall, unless he decides that no such question has arisen, refer the question to the Election Commission within 30 days and should he fail to do so within the aforesaid period, it shall be deemed to have been referred to the Election Commission.”. The judicial activism is once against playing havoc with this country. They are the custodian of constitution but themselves violating the sanctity of constitution which is hilarious.
It is tragic that when major democracies like the United States, Canada, Britain and developing countries like the Philippines and Mexico allow dual citizens to hold public office, the Pakistani Supreme Court has seized itself with yet another political question in which its initial comments appear quite reactionary and out of sync with the community of nations. It is however a welcome sign that Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has not only elevated the level of discourse above partisan politics but by acknowledging the right of all dual citizen Pakistanis to run for public office has set the stage for revisiting Article 63(1) (c), parts of which should have been done away with in the 18th Amendment to the Constitution.
Pakistan's diplomatic passport is 'red', by the way. ~SS
And yes diplomatic passposrts are blue, with a Pakistani state symbol on top of it. When someone says red passport they mean British, when some one says blue they mean American....
Some people are asking what is the matter with keeping dual citizenship... Well nothing is wrong if you're a common citizen of both countries. But once you hold office you are in. Bit of a dilemma. For example most western countries require allegiance to ther constitution, Renuncement of any foreign title etc, and most importantly support their country in war, or in any capacity that they may require, such as running information and all. Therefore a person holding an office in one country has a conflict of interest in serving since his loyalty is meant to be split with his other country and therefore cannot be trusted with information.
What happens if a person leaks sensitive information to other countries. If it was just a Pakistani citizen then he/she can be prosecuted in Pakistan. While if the person was a dual citizen he may leave Pakistan or may have protection due to the fact that he is a subject of another country.
Also instead of just focusing on Rahman Malik, the election commission should investigate all members of national and provincial assemblies, and also run a thorough investigation for future candidates.... I think even some members of PTI had accepted on live shows that they are American citizens.... Again a thorough background check of all is required.
Mr jinnah, Mr Iqbal, Ch Rehmath ali, to every fuedal every big judge sahiban, to MQM leader and MNAs all are foriegn citizen why only Mr rehman malik B shop to proved only.
How many hours left ?
Dear Sirs, Rehman Malik is not 'all condemned" as you portray him. After all he has served Pakistani people in hard times. In the event of killing spree anywhere, he would come up with strong declaration "Moolzi-moN ko kaifarr kirdar takk pohn-cha dia jai ga". On any anti-state or any-public activity he would be the first to "take notice". lolz
@AB: "No Sir, Red passport is a British passport. Diplomats in Pakistan are issued with a blue passport."
No to you Sir. Diplomatic passport for Pakistanis is indeed red. Blue passport is for other government employees and officials.
what about his US citizenship ........
@Hasan I have a diplomat passport and its blue.
@PAKIGHAN: Europe and America are the most developed and ever heard of Canadian Minister in America or any Non German or Non French National to be a part of the Cabinet and at the same time a foreign national????? There is nothing wrong in having a dual nationality but if You are having a Public Office then You must renounce your Foreign Citizenship to Pledge full allegiance to the people who are represented by you. Take the Example of Shaukat Aziz that after getting out of office he give a damn about Pakistan and left Pakistan for good so we want to get rid of all types of these politicians for good so that Pakistan could be a developed state.
a person who has citizenship of british is a minister in pakistan, it seems their is no implemention of law in pakistan. people both residents or foreigner can do any thing in pakistan and play with pakistan. nobody is going to look at matters.
This man is heading Interior Ministery. If find guilty, can court show the same guts as has shown in Dr. Afridi case and sentence him to prision for 33 years ? Becoz this is a much bigger treason than afridi.
Why are people surprised ? Did they expect the truth from him ?
So What? Many of the politicians enjoy this opportunity, which comes ones in life time. His close friend Altaf is one of them. Who is ruling/destroying Karachi being an English passport holder. Ch. Nisar also enjoys his family being an American & so on.
@harkol: And others.
No Sir, Red passport is a British passport. Diplomats in Pakistan are issued with a blue passport. If 229 pounds fee was paid then this had to be sent via registered mail or through special delivery service and receipt is retained. The parcel can then be traced easily if it was delivered or otherwise.
@Hassan ..... british passport is also red.
@Hassan Bokhari: Britsh passports are red in colour. Diplomatic passports are some other colour.
@ Hassan Bokhari: Very true..Pakistani media is no different from our Pakistani Lawyer community who feel ethics are not made for them..'Think before you speak' does not apply to them but 'Never think just speak' is true for them :)
.@Hassan Bokhari: Red is a British Passport and Blue is diplomatic
Was n't shaukat aziz a US citizen too?
@Mirza:
Dear Mirza Sahib may be you are not aware of the fact the hounouable CJ has already order all provincial assemblies secratries to submit report that who has dual nationality. I have been reading you comments regularly and found you very polarised. Dear you may also be aware of the fact this case has been there SC for a considerable time and Rehman Malik has been advised by the court while he was there in UK through his counsel that he must get official documents to make clear that he is no more UK citizen. But he is all the time cheating the SC and waiting to complete PPP government term so that he can be back his home.
Dr Malik still enjoying British Citizenship. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I completely disagree with this.
In Britain one has to pay Taxes unlike the taxfree Pakistan! QED.
I'd rather people like Mr. Malik renounced Pakistani citizenship.
WEll that is great. Let's look at the bright side of things.
We are her majesty's subject...their citizens running (or ruining) Pakistan. I woud propose we should all then get red passports.
If Rehman Malik has lied to the SC should we expect perjury charges to soon follow?
Did I get this right?? Pakistan's foreign minister is err... foreigner??
An application was sent "by mail". Confimation of receiving of that application or acceptance or rejection by British Government is being awaited since last four years.... My good God! Is it British Government, or some municipality office of Pakistan?
What a clever plea designed to dodge our judicial system...
CJ and SC lost their credibility. They just release terrorist on lack of evidence and fail to implement their political judgements.
What is wrong with keeping dual nationalities? An official should be judged by his competence and fulfillment of responsibilities.
Hahahaha...a red passport is a diplomatic passport which he would obviously have since he is the Interior Minister of Pakistan. Before spreading rumors, please correct your facts. Something which Pakistani media always fails to do.
This is the time to get rid of this &((^
Haha.....A Pakistani "expected" to give away European citizenship.....Joke of the century.
Dont worry, he like the the other peas in the pod... they will not leave our fields of green without kicking or screaming!
almost all the technocrats and bureaucrats are foreign paid agents u can c as above
"However, he added, an officially signed and stamped copy has not been returned to his client so far." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Typical poor service of HM's postal service.
Definitely he send mail through Pakistan postal service, lolzz these ministers didn't bother to fools judiciary!
How many cases against PML-N and Sharif brothers are in the SC or actively heard in LHC? It could be a good start if the PCO CJ would have ordered through the election commission to ask all members of NA, Senate and PA and not target only one party.
Just wondering why these people cannot tell the truth to the country. This guy if lying should be sent to jail
Who cares, other than the ones with plenty of time and energy to spare.
What about the 24 hour notice given to the minister by the supreme court?