In a surprise move, an under fire Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior Affairs Rehman Malik announced his resignation from the Senate on Tuesday. The announcement follows the earlier suspension of his upper house membership by the Supreme Court after he failed to provide necessary documents proving he had given up his British citizenship.
Speaking to the media at Karachi’s airport, Malik said he had submitted his resignation to the party leadership and the prime minister of Pakistan. He added that he wanted to discontinue his job as adviser as well, but the prime minister did not accept it.
An emotionally-charged Malik said that he had wound up his business in the UK in 2008 and withdrawn his British nationality on the directives of former premier Benazir Bhutto and her husband President Asif Ali Zardari. “I will now accept whatever responsibility is given to me by my party,” he said. “I will now ask Nawaz Sharif’s son and others to inform people about their (dual) nationality and surrender the same without any delay,” he added.
Holding up papers purportedly proving his renouncement of his British nationality, Malik further declared: “All barriers have now been removed; I will now speak loudly in support of the dual nationality bill as well as for the rights of 1.2 million overseas Pakistanis. He emphasised that he wasn’t following anyone else’s dictates and was committed to working for the betterment of Pakistan. “I have asked my family to bury me in Islamabad if I die,” he added.
The interior affairs adviser also appreciated the support shown by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain in favour of the dual nationality bill, and strongly denied the bill was being presented in Parliament to appease him (Malik).
“My resignation will thwart the speculation that the legislation is meant to save me.” Malik also dismissed the opposition’s stance on the bill, saying, “There is no need for Nawaz Sharif’s party to support the dual nationality bill, the government will adopt the bill on its own.”
MQM chief Altaf also issued a statement on Tuesday praising Malik’s resignation. According to the statement, Altaf spoke to Malik on the phone and told him that his move had made all overseas Pakistanis ‘proud’ and termed it a ‘befitting answer’ to opposition parties.
(WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT)
Published in The Express Tribune, July 11th, 2012.
COMMENTS (5)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
Mr. Rehman Malik resigned because he had violated the constitution, given false information and withheld vital facts from the election commission while submitting his papers for a seat in the Senate, besides having miserably failed to control crime and improve law and order situation. Never in the history of this country so many were killed for their innocence. He boasted with relish the harm he wrought on the noble name of Islam. He has resigned because he had no escape route left to continue as a legislator. His strategy now will be to denounce his dual citizenship present himself as an honest person and make a come back, either soon or in the next election. If he succeeds, it will show the absence of dignity, sanity and honor of the voters. I am sure RM knows that Pakistani voters are the most gullible idiots.
Is the ship sinking otherwise why he will resign? Or his lying to SC is going to be proofed so better get out of the way?
Foreign forces were destabilizing Pakistan in the name of religion since few decades. But now have started to destabilize the home land in the name of justice also through courts. Think and understand this tactic .
This probably is the only right thing RM have done in his adulthood; overseas Pakistanis charish his decision and strongly demand to abandon his role as Advisor to PM. It will be a big shame if he still continue it.
Mr Malik, We the Overseas Pakistani's dont want you to represent us. Please hamara peecha chor do. Stop hiding behind us and fight your own battles. You are an incompetent interior minister who is highly influenced by Star wars .... Bugger off dude