Dual nationality case: Malik given ‘last chance’ to prove he is not UK citizen
The Supreme Court rejected documents submitted by Interior Minister Rehman Malik as formal evidence to support his claim of renouncing his British citizenship. Hearing the dual nationality case on Wednesday, a three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, identified several anomalies in the documents submitted by Malik – but gave him one last chance to submit genuine documents to prove his claim.
The minister’s failure to satisfy the court by showing a receipt of the payment made to forgo his British citizenship may cost him his parliament membership.
“You are showing us an unattested form that has no significance to us,” Justice Chaudhry told Malik’s counsel, Chaudhry Azhar. “Show us the signed, stamped declaration renouncing his (British) citizenship,” he demanded.
The court observed that the dates mentioned on the form submitted by Malik did not match the ones mentioned in an affidavit submitted earlier by him.
The court was also informed that the name of Malik’s wife was mistakenly written as Saeed instead of Saeeda. However, the court chose to ignore the correction and incorporated Saeed in its written order.
The court was hearing a petition filed by Mahmood Akhtar Naqvi, who alleged that Malik held a British passport.
During the last hearing, the Supreme Court suspended the National Assembly membership of the president’s media advisor, Farahnaz Ispahani, because she held a US-Pakistan dual citizenship.
On Wednesday, Ispahani moved an application seeking adjournment of her case.
The court also found contradictions in MNA Zahid Iqbal’s statements and expressed concern over his possession of more than one passport.
Attorney general raises concern
The court ordered Attorney General Irfan Qadir to get in touch with national and provincial assemblies for information regarding lawmakers who hold dual nationalities. The AG, however, asked the court to refer the matter to the executive authority. He explained that, just like the judiciary cases are referred to the Supreme Judicial Council, parliamentarians’ cases should be dealt with by parliament itself.
In response, the chief justice told Qadir that since this was not a case of misconduct there was no need to refer it to any other forum.
Justice Jawwad S Khwaja asked the AG to refrain from a briefing on Malik and Ispahani and instead, assist the court.
An adamant Qadir insisted that the issue raises a question over whether or not the court has the mandate to disqualify parliamentarians. He also raised objections to the chief justice’s referral to the fake degree case as precedent, saying that the members will continue sitting in the assemblies to address the miseries of overseas Pakistanis.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 31st, 2012.
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It is hilarious that this law was promulgated by a dictator whose own Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz was a dual nationality holder and where is written in constitution of Pakistan that a dual nationality holder can not be MNA… Which law said that a dual citizen cannot be a MNA? Pakistan changed its citizenship act retroactively in 2002 to allow dual citizenship of 16 countries including USA. Which law did the PCO judges use? No law at all. The as usual took over the function of the legislature and created a new Law for the land of the Pure. Judicial activism is just directed to target PPP parliamentarians and members. If Supreme Court passes ruling against dual nationality it should also pass a ruling according to which No MNA, or MPA can send his/ her family abroad either for education or settlement but court will never do because their own families are living abroad and their children are studying in foreign institutions.
This is a country that imported three US citizens (Bogra, Moeen Qureshi, Shaukat Aziz) to directly appoint them to the post of PM. This was done by the patriot establishment. Current PCO judges were appointed and twice terminated by the Expatriate Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. Why suddenly this Farmaishi petition (in the words of Asma Jahangir) is being taken at this point. Supreme Court is the last appeal body for such cases but they are acting like a presiding officer. A petition against Shehbaz Shareef is pending in the court for four years but that will never be taken till the time his tenure is over. Bias is floating none the surface.