Dual-nationality: SC suspends membership of 2 MQM legislators
Court orders registration of criminal cases against FIA chief, officials.
ISLAMABAD:
As the federal cabinet approved amendments to the dual nationality and contempt of court laws on Wednesday, the apex court suspended the membership of two more lawmakers having dual nationalities.
The court also ordered registration of criminal cases against certain officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), including Director General Fayyaz Laghari, for ‘misguiding the court’ in some cases of dual-nationality holders.
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry suspended the memberships of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)’s MNA Farhat Mahmood and MPA Nadia Gabol.
In its written order, the bench observed that MNA Khan and MPA Gabol defied several notices to appear before the court.
While entertaining another petition in this case, the court issued notices to the government for assigning an important task to former interior minister Rehman Malik despite suspension of his membership by the court. Currently, Malik is posted as Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior Affairs.
The chief justice said a final verdict would be announced after hearing Attorney General Irfan Qadir’s view on the issue. The court will hear again after two weeks.
FIA in hot water
Pakistan Peoples Party MPA Tariq Mahmood Alwana complained to the court that his travel history was fabricated by the FIA and blamed the agency’s officials for playing into the hands of his rivals.
FIA’s legal director told the court that it was a bona fide mistake, as coincidently the name of Tariq Mahmood, his date of birth and his parents’ names matched another person’s, who is a resident of Chakwal and holds a US nationality.
However, in its written order, the court directed its additional registrar to lodge a criminal complaint against the FIA and other officials of the agency responsible for providing false and fabricated documents to the court.
The Supreme Court had earlier suspended the memberships of Senator Rehman Malik, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA Muhammad Jamil Malik, PPP MPA Dr Amna Buttar, MNA Zahid Iqbal, MNA Farah Naz Ispahani, MPA Muhammad Akhlaq and MPA Dr Ahmad Ali Shah for holding dual nationalities.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 5th, 2012.
As the federal cabinet approved amendments to the dual nationality and contempt of court laws on Wednesday, the apex court suspended the membership of two more lawmakers having dual nationalities.
The court also ordered registration of criminal cases against certain officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), including Director General Fayyaz Laghari, for ‘misguiding the court’ in some cases of dual-nationality holders.
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry suspended the memberships of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)’s MNA Farhat Mahmood and MPA Nadia Gabol.
In its written order, the bench observed that MNA Khan and MPA Gabol defied several notices to appear before the court.
While entertaining another petition in this case, the court issued notices to the government for assigning an important task to former interior minister Rehman Malik despite suspension of his membership by the court. Currently, Malik is posted as Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior Affairs.
The chief justice said a final verdict would be announced after hearing Attorney General Irfan Qadir’s view on the issue. The court will hear again after two weeks.
FIA in hot water
Pakistan Peoples Party MPA Tariq Mahmood Alwana complained to the court that his travel history was fabricated by the FIA and blamed the agency’s officials for playing into the hands of his rivals.
FIA’s legal director told the court that it was a bona fide mistake, as coincidently the name of Tariq Mahmood, his date of birth and his parents’ names matched another person’s, who is a resident of Chakwal and holds a US nationality.
However, in its written order, the court directed its additional registrar to lodge a criminal complaint against the FIA and other officials of the agency responsible for providing false and fabricated documents to the court.
The Supreme Court had earlier suspended the memberships of Senator Rehman Malik, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA Muhammad Jamil Malik, PPP MPA Dr Amna Buttar, MNA Zahid Iqbal, MNA Farah Naz Ispahani, MPA Muhammad Akhlaq and MPA Dr Ahmad Ali Shah for holding dual nationalities.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 5th, 2012.