During the previous hearing, the Lahore High Court chief justice had ordered Mahmood to appear personally before the court on Friday, but the MPA failed to comply with the order. Mahmood’s counsel told the court that his client is under treatment at a hospital in Karachi. He apprised the court that his client is a permanent resident of Canada but not did not have Canadian nationality.
In his rebuttal, the petitioner’s counsel argued that if Mahmood is not a Canadian national then why an overseas identity card has been issued to him.
Petitioner Faisal Ilyas Sadiq, through his counsel Saiful Malook, argued that the respondent has an overseas identity card which is granted only to a Pakistani citizen who have passport of some other country. He alleged that Mahmood is a Canadian national and under the Article 63 of the Constitution, a person holding dual nationality could not be elected as a member of the national or provincial assembly.
He further contended that Mahmood was a Muslim but was elected to the Punjab Assembly member on a seat reserved for non-Muslims in the 2008 general elections.
He said that Mahmood for these reasons, his portfolio should be taken back from him.
He added that Mahmood’s membership can be suspended till the court passes a final verdict as the Supreme Court has done in the dual nationality case.
The petitioner alleged that Mahmood is a Canadian businessman but got elected as an MPA by painting himself as a Christian.
Some of his opponents, in search of documents to prove that he was a Canadian national, found his identity card showing him as a Muslim, he added.
He also said that they found an identity card attributed to Asif, issued in 2009, for overseas Pakistanis which also showed him as a Muslim. He also presented the card to the court.
The petitioner also said that according to Nadra’s record, Mahmood’s three children were also shown as Muslim but his wife is shown as Christian in the identity cards.
On the other hand, Mahmood’s counsel had contested the case of his client being a non-Muslim, pleading that he had been wrongly depicted as a Muslim in Nadra’s record due to a typographical mistake, which had been later corrected.
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topi drama at its worst
This is reason enough to show corruption, dishonesty and lack of leadership qualities of Nawaz Sharif. Politicians and businessmen of such genre suddenly fall ill, are indisposed in hospitals or need hospital treatment usually in the UK when faced with notices from the Courts. Pakistani Public is not stupid. They now intend to vote for Imran Khan at the next election. Then IK's Government in 90 Days will have all these characters behind bars for felonies they committed while in office. Sharif Brothers should have their London "digs" cleaned-up for permanent residence. They should also take that eyesore "Lion" in Model Town with them.
@Fawad Azam: I agree with you 100%. The PCO SC has two gears forward and reverses. They moved fast against HH's family and now they have been waiting for the HC to deal with the first case against PML-N. After the HC decision if and when it is announced it could be appealed to the SC and then the term would be over. All cases against the elected govt start and end at the SC, with no right to appeal to a higher court. Thanks and regards, Mirza
@Usman Khalid: first of all this is HC and not SC, btw both are slanted. Just an excerpt from a news item (ET yesterday) "PML-N has around 28 MPAs and 23 MNAs who hold dual nationalities. However, only a few have been summoned by the court."
people defaming SC of being PMLN courts should reconsider again.