Dual nationality: LHC summons MPA Rana Asif

Petitioner argues MPA Asif was elected to PA despite possessing Canadian nationality.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday set aside allegations against Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) MPA Rana Asif Mahmood of being elected on a minority seat (Christian) while being a Muslim, and summoned him to apprise the court about his dual nationality.

LHC Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, while hearing a petition challenging Mahmood’s election on a minority seat and his dual nationality, observed that religion is a sensitive matter which should be avoided by all respondents in the case. Instead, they should only pursue the allegations of dual nationality which have been raised in the petition, he added.

Mahmood’s counsel Advocate Jamshed Rehmatullah appeared before the court on Tuesday and requested for a week's time to submit a written reply on behalf of his client. However, the chief justice turned down the request saying that the Supreme Court has already suspended memberships of various parliamentarians for holding dual nationalities, and no further time can be given to Mahmood.

The court, however, gave two hours time to the respondent to file the reply, but Mahmood’s counsel failed in submitting a reply and requested for more time.

Petitioner Advocate Saiful Mulook submitted that the respondent was trying to delay the matter by seeking more time. He contested that it was clear that the respondent possessed an overseas identity card which is only granted to those Pakistani citizens who have a passport (nationality) of some other country.

The petitioner also produced a copy of the card in question before the court, and alleged that Mahmood was a Canadian national and the Constitution did not allow any citizen of some another country to be elected as a member of assemblies of Pakistan.