Dual nationality: Another petition filed against Malik
Supreme Court has asked Interior Minister to submit ‘genuine’ documents by June 4.
ISLAMABAD:
Another application was filed in the Supreme Court against the interior minister’s dual nationality case amid contradictory reports on whether Rehman Malik is still a British national or not.
A report published in an English newspaper claims that the British authorities have accepted Malik’s application to revoke his British nationality, while the petitioner Advocate Akram Sheikh claims that Malik is still a citizen of the UK.
However, a UK-based Pakistani lawyer who deals with immigration cases, Muzamil Mukhtar says the British authorities are not permitted to disclose the status of a current or former national, unless the person in question gives in writing that they are allowed to do so.
Sheikh, who filed the application on behalf of journalist Shahid Masood on Saturday, urged the court to administer restraint on dual nationalities of parliamentarians. He also produced relevant material which he noted would help the court in the case. “It is most respectfully prayed that this court … to take into consideration the documents attached with this application.”
In its last hearing, the Supreme Court rejected the documents submitted by Malik, asking him to submit ‘genuine’ documents by June 4 which proclaim that he has handed in an affidavit to give up his UK citizenship in 2008.
Sheikh maintains that holding another country’s citizenship creates inherent conflicts of interest and disables the person in question from exercising his/her obligations honestly and truly.
He cited the example of American citizens who take an oath to be loyal and faithful to US interests. According to Article 5 of the Constitution of Pakistan, a citizen is promised extraterritorial protection in return for “unquestioned loyalty to the state.”
Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated Interior Ministry in place of Interior Minister. The correction has been made.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 3rd, 2012.
Another application was filed in the Supreme Court against the interior minister’s dual nationality case amid contradictory reports on whether Rehman Malik is still a British national or not.
A report published in an English newspaper claims that the British authorities have accepted Malik’s application to revoke his British nationality, while the petitioner Advocate Akram Sheikh claims that Malik is still a citizen of the UK.
However, a UK-based Pakistani lawyer who deals with immigration cases, Muzamil Mukhtar says the British authorities are not permitted to disclose the status of a current or former national, unless the person in question gives in writing that they are allowed to do so.
Sheikh, who filed the application on behalf of journalist Shahid Masood on Saturday, urged the court to administer restraint on dual nationalities of parliamentarians. He also produced relevant material which he noted would help the court in the case. “It is most respectfully prayed that this court … to take into consideration the documents attached with this application.”
In its last hearing, the Supreme Court rejected the documents submitted by Malik, asking him to submit ‘genuine’ documents by June 4 which proclaim that he has handed in an affidavit to give up his UK citizenship in 2008.
Sheikh maintains that holding another country’s citizenship creates inherent conflicts of interest and disables the person in question from exercising his/her obligations honestly and truly.
He cited the example of American citizens who take an oath to be loyal and faithful to US interests. According to Article 5 of the Constitution of Pakistan, a citizen is promised extraterritorial protection in return for “unquestioned loyalty to the state.”
Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated Interior Ministry in place of Interior Minister. The correction has been made.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 3rd, 2012.