PPP’s Zahid Iqbal suspended as member of National Assembly
PPP member joins growing list of already suspended dual nationality holders.
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Zahid Iqbal’s membership of the National Assembly was suspended by the Supreme Court while hearing the dual nationality case on Monday.
A three-judge bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry heard the case alongside Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain. The chief justice adjudicated that the order should be sent to National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza for immediate implementation.
The court has already suspended the memberships of Senator Rehman Malik, MNA Farahnaz Isphani, Punjab MPA Mohammad Ikhlaq, Punjab MPA Dr Amna Butter and Sindh MPA Dr Ahmed Ali.
Mian Abdul Rauf representing MNA Iqbal, could not present his client’s passport. The petitioners pointed out that the bench has suspended the membership of other parliamentarians holding dual nationality therefore Iqbal’s membership should also be cancelled in accordance with Article 25 of the Constitution that states everyone should be treated equally.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA Jamil Ahmad Awan appeared before the court and submitted his statement through his counsel Advocate Imtiaz. The counsel argued that Awan is not a citizen but a national of Holland, to which the chief justice questioned, “How can one be a national (of a country) without being a citizen?”
Meanwhile, MNA Farhat Khan, MPA Nadia Gabol, MPA Ashraf Chouhan, MPA Wasim Qadir and MPA Nadeem Khadim were issued notices to appear before the court yet again.
Since former interior minister Malik’s membership had also been suspended, the chief justice stated that no one will be discriminated against despite their seniority in public office.
During Monday’s proceedings the court redirected Anwar Mansoor Khan, counsel for Malik, to submit his renunciation form and a receipt of the fee submitted to the UK Border Agency. On the request of Mansoor the court granted more time to Malik to submit his documents and adjourned the hearing till July 2.
Published In The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2012.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Zahid Iqbal’s membership of the National Assembly was suspended by the Supreme Court while hearing the dual nationality case on Monday.
A three-judge bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry heard the case alongside Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain. The chief justice adjudicated that the order should be sent to National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza for immediate implementation.
The court has already suspended the memberships of Senator Rehman Malik, MNA Farahnaz Isphani, Punjab MPA Mohammad Ikhlaq, Punjab MPA Dr Amna Butter and Sindh MPA Dr Ahmed Ali.
Mian Abdul Rauf representing MNA Iqbal, could not present his client’s passport. The petitioners pointed out that the bench has suspended the membership of other parliamentarians holding dual nationality therefore Iqbal’s membership should also be cancelled in accordance with Article 25 of the Constitution that states everyone should be treated equally.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA Jamil Ahmad Awan appeared before the court and submitted his statement through his counsel Advocate Imtiaz. The counsel argued that Awan is not a citizen but a national of Holland, to which the chief justice questioned, “How can one be a national (of a country) without being a citizen?”
Meanwhile, MNA Farhat Khan, MPA Nadia Gabol, MPA Ashraf Chouhan, MPA Wasim Qadir and MPA Nadeem Khadim were issued notices to appear before the court yet again.
Since former interior minister Malik’s membership had also been suspended, the chief justice stated that no one will be discriminated against despite their seniority in public office.
During Monday’s proceedings the court redirected Anwar Mansoor Khan, counsel for Malik, to submit his renunciation form and a receipt of the fee submitted to the UK Border Agency. On the request of Mansoor the court granted more time to Malik to submit his documents and adjourned the hearing till July 2.
Published In The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2012.