ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday suspended the membership of Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) Member National Assembly (MNA) Muhammad Jamil Malik for holding dual nationality, Express News reported.
A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, was hearing cases pertaining to dual nationality of assembly members.
MNA Malik Jameel holds Dutch nationality in addition to being a Pakistani national.
“Whether the number of dual nationality holders is two or 10, the court has to focus on public interest,” said the chief justice.
At this point, the counsel of the Prime Minister's Adviser on Interior Affairs Rehman Malik said that former prime minister Shaukat Aziz also held dual nationality.
“Why do you show an American businessman the way to come to Pakistan and become the prime minister?” said the chief justice in response, while Justice Jawwad S Khawaja added, “File a petition, we will issue a notice to Shaukat Aziz and Pervez Musharraf too.”
Earlier, Rehman Malik had failed to present documents before the Supreme Court proving his renouncement of his British nationality.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the PML-N member's name as "Malik Jamil Ahmed" instead of "Muhammad Jamil Malik". A correction has been made.
COMMENTS (10)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@Anonymous: "CJ keep it up you are our only hope" ---- with this speed of illegal actions, the CJ is inflicting irreparable loss the institution SC, our only hope is no more the CJ but the rest of the Bench to act now and save the judiciary itself.
Looks like the PCO judges have run out of all PPP members? Now slowly and gradually they would move against friends till their term ends! Where are the corruption cases against Sharif brother and other PML-N members? Why no progress on the case of Qadri, the hero of judges and lawyers? Not a peep about the murder of BB in those two attempts more than two hundred people died, Asghar Khan's case, Abbottabad Commission and the list goes on and on.
@Nadeem:
Jamil Malik confessed ten days ago in Court and I quote that he "has the dutch citizenship but is not a national' even after that ridiculous statement he was only punished now. Plus also notice the lack of acerbic remarks by the PCO judges.
@ Jibran Agreed about the PCO judges; but the same PCO was then legitimized by the sitting assembly hence making it part of the constitution in 2003. As is the case for every ordinance, it has to be either extended for a time period or revoked until it gets enacted by parliament
Put them behind the bars for perjury.
Why is the resorting to suspension instead of referring to EC for appropriate action?
This should clear out doubts in the minds of our people who think or believe that SC or Chief Justice is inclined more towards the PML-N, which is definitely not true.
This is to inform all the basher that used to criticize the apex court for suspending only PPP lawmakers and not doing anything about other parties especially PML-N. Judiciary is taking all the necessary steps to uphold the constitution. A good step, and much appreciated,
To support their argument the PCO judges are asking the lawyer to bring petition against Shaukat Aziz. Ironically for other matters they love to take Suo Motto. But since during that time they were benefiting from the fruits of dictatorship they didn't do anything. Only when the fruit was taken away from them, their conscience woke up.
Good. CJ keep it up you are our only hope