ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued notifications of disuqualification for 11 members of the Parliament after the Supreme Court deemed them disqualified in the dual nationality case, Express News reported on Thursday.
Those who were disqualified by the Supreme Court and issued notices to by the the ECP are MNAs Zahid Iqbal‚ Farah Naz Isphani‚ Farhat Mehmood Khan‚ and Jamil Ahmad Malik and MPAs Muhammad Akhlaq MPA Muhammad Ashraf Chohan‚ Nadia Gabol‚ Chaudhry Wasim Qadir, Chaudhry Nadeem Khadim‚ Amna Bhuttar and Dr Ahmad Ali Shah.
Announcing the verdict earlier, the court said that under article 63 (1) (C) of the constitution‚ no parliamentarian can hold dual nationality.
The court had directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to de-notify the respective memberships of the disqualified parliamentarians.
The bench said all the disqualified members had made false declarations before the election commission while filing their nomination papers.
The court directed for the recovery of all monetary benefits drawn by the disqualified members for the period during which they occupied the public office and its deposit in the public exchequer within two weeks.
As for the case of Interior Minister Rehman Malik‚ the court noted that he, in view of the false declaration filed by him at the time of contesting the 2008 Senate elections, cannot be considered sagacious‚ righteous and honest.
Therefore the ECP directed to institute legal proceedings against him as has been directed in the case of other disqualified members.
The apex court also directed the ECP to examine the cases of the parliamentarians individually by obtaining fresh declaration on oath from all of them that they are not disqualified under article 63 (1) (c) of the constitution.
Read the Supreme Court short order here.
COMMENTS (71)
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Supreme Court has given a right decision but Rehman Malik has been separated from the other people who have been disqualified. It appears that he will be awarded more severe punishment besides disqualification as he has been constantly lying before the Court and thus making mokery of the law of the land. Now he cannot escape from the harsh p.unishment. Some people think that if he is punished his punisment will be done away by Zardari but I don't think so. He will have to face the consequences now. He may ,however, get some more time by filing review petition.
Kick out him from parliment n send him back to uk
A good decision really. Well Done CJP. A man of Principles.
Truly like it !!! punish them and make them benchmark for the others !!! Dil khush kitta hai oyee!!
This decision of SC is nonsensical. Unlike some countries that do not allow dual nationality, Pakistan does allow its citizens to hold dual passports. Citizenship grants all the privilages that any ordinary citizen would enjoy. If Pakistanis can becomes parliamentary members in their adopted countries, why are they being denied such positions in their country of birth? Might as well deprive the dual nationals of their Pakistani citizenship.
A little late in coming but a sound judgement.
Well done SC for giving the ruling on dual nationalties being member of parliament. Having given the decision on merit the judiciary and in particular the SC is playing its part in the true spirit as one of the pillar of the constitution. Hats off to supreme court's CJ and his team of judges for setting the right trend and showing direction to the other 3 pillors of the constitution. I'm sure the judiciary and in particular the SC is trying in all sincerety to make amends for its past dalliance nevertheless as a citizen I appreciate their effort and wish them well for the future in the belief that student of Pakistan history will not be unkind to them.
Allah help this country.... Allah we need your help to open the sealed hearts and minds of this doomed nation.....
Worst ever decision by Supreme Court. Its not the matter of few assembly members. Its a set back to all patriots who intend to serve Pakistan. Infact SC has cut the hand which feeds us. Duel Natioality holders and Expatriate Pakistanis are back bone of our economy. Not only they send billions of dollars every year, they save us from begging these billions. Beggars have lost all sense and self respect.. Services of expatriate Pakistanis are hundreds of times more than these so called single nationality corrupt patriots. Enjoy complete and unckecked single nationality with begging bowls in your hands.
How about the judges and bureaucrats who are holding dual nationality?
This is an excellent historic decision to close the doors for imported Prime Ministers like Moin Qureshi & Shaukat Aziz (a.k.a Shortcut Aziz) who just took up their brief case and left the country after ruling, looting and spoiling it. Similar action is needed for Dual National government servants who have more sympathy for their developed country whose allegiance they have sworn. -Pakistan's High Commissioner (Ambassador) to UK, Wajid Shamsul Hasan is a UK citizen and enjoys his life there... -Hussain Haqqani was a US national and wrote trecehrous letters to US govt against Pakistan and its military... -Hamesh Khan, the tout of Chaudhries of Gujrat, was President of a bank who plundered it badly. He slipped away to USA on Canadian Passport... -Till recently the Chairman of a regulatory authority (PTA) was a foreign national who caused great harm to the country... -These days a Singaporean national is looting House Building Finance Corporation and will soon run away with the booty......
SC has removed Rehman Malik only to make certain fractions happy and personal issues with him. He has now only Pakistani citizenship. It would be same as government kick out judges of SC due to their owth of 1999 coup.
Viva! Viva! Viva! Viva! Viva! Viva! Viva! Viva! Viva! Viva! and one more Viva! Salams to SC.
lets not stop their... disqualify all dual national in Army, Bureaucrats and Public Service officers...
Wouldn't it be nice if the SC outlawed press conferences for Malik? What would he do with all that spare time on his hands?
Brave decision for nation, now all affected ex parliamentary members must know the value of our green passport. well done SC
A landmark judgement.The excutive should imlement it in letter and spirit.
Yayyyyyyy
How can Supreme Court disqualify Rehman Malik? He had already resigned and thus it became a past and closed transaction. If they are now disqualifying members in retrospect for the good of the country: I suggest they disqualify former Prime Ministers Moeen Qureshi and Shaukat Aziz and ask them to reimburse the salaries, perks and incase of Shaukat Aziz the gifts given to the office of the Prime Minister appropriated by him through misuse of power.
Why only ten ?? The Apex court of Pakistan should have disqualified all for failing the country on all fronts.
right step at the right time. bye bye Altaf Hussain
@Noor: Pakistani overseas remitted almost US$13 billion last year. Will you also ask them to stop sending money to Pakistan?
@isloos: I would request the God-sent, most-people's justice in Pakistan's history kindly to order return of all salaries and benefits enjoyed by disqualified MPAs, ministers, advisers in this case and all previous cases adjudged by him. This fair order will accord with justice demanded by God and general public.
@Justice: They can vote non-dual nationality Pakistanis to power in elections, including their near and dear ones to whom they remit huge foreign currencies.Making exceptions will open doors for corruptions, frauds, etc.
They should also be punished for lying to the nation.
@Justice: I agree with what you are trying to say. But we are talking about dual nationality guys holding govt office. If they are forced to take dual nationalities for any reason then they should not be govt officers. Period. They can have 5 different passports if they want or wish but they must not run the country.
Thank you SC god bless you. Keep up the good and honest work. Enough said.
yeh wot about MQM ?? when will SC take action regarding them :S
Rehman Malik ? Oh God, now who will catch and photograph all the martian, alien and ET attackers ?
Well done supreme court, thsi decision will go a long way in clearing politicians holding important state positions who have doubtfull sincerity to there own country and were capable of undermining our security...
How about disqualifying persons holding permanent resident (as good as nationality) status in UK. Leaders of N-League for example.
Thank God, something happened to that incompetant malik
Good decision. How could these persons knowingly file an incorrect declaration.
Subhan'allah! It's very spectacular act by SC! Now those politicians who come to Pakistan just with that intention of earning money they are eliminated. Politicians are maded for serve the peoples interest. I'm agree with Sc welldon.
Thanks God, the news for which i waz waiting since a very longtime, the removal of Rehman Malik
I fully support the decision on removing dual nationals not just from parliament but from all important positions of government. Also the leaders of parties, even when they are London based should not be allowed to act as party chiefs . This is also required by the Political Parties Act.
we owe it all to Altaf Bhaee
This decision will pave the way for good character people to come into the Parliament to serve the interest of Pakistan.
Good decision.
@liberal_pak: Because that someone is not an MP and not holding any public office.
A great tribute to pak judiciary for their revolutionory orders..
This is a pivotal decision by SC for the national security of our country. Well done.
This was clearly the most important issue in country.
Overseas Pakistani's did not went for holiday. They were forced by circumstances to leave and they earn with their hard work. Most of them compelled to take dual nationalities because of economic reasons!
Overseas Pakistani's don't live on Aid ! Declare those ineligible who live in Pakistan on foreign aid and think that they are more loyal than those who earn with hard work!
Good job.
If we go through other countries' practices, they even go to the extent of dis-allowing anyone for voting who didn't visit his/her homeland during previous 3 years.
We may also consider imposing such rules.
The aim is to enable only those people to be part of parliament(as well as the voters) who are the actual stakeholders, and not such people who come to this country as a part time resort & have their assets in other countries offering better financial prospects.
Vienna,September 19,2012 When all are guilty to be disqualified the process of judging should be reciprocal. In other words re-evaluate qualifications of one and all who are partners in power sharing.Disinfect everything whole sale to get rid of live toxic material from the system. Taravadu Taranga Trust for Media Monitoring TTTMM India --Kulamarva Balakrishna
Long Live CJ, Pakistan Zindabad
Now don't let them back without ensuring they have indeed surrendered their foreign nationalities.
At last this time they have reached a decision, else they are scared of giving the verdicts. I guess now all political parties whom members are disqualified will bring in a new amendment to the law under which they are disqualified. As the core functionality of Parliament is to protect the interests of those who are inside it, not outside!
Well done SC !
Well done CJP
likes a good decesion
great decision.......much awaited. Everybody has right to choose where he/she wants to live but presence in parliament must be reserved to the people who have sole citizenship.
Plain and simple ! No foreign nationality holder should be allowed to sit in the assembly and represent the people.
great decision
right decision, it was mockery that after having affidavit on oath, declaing absolute loyalty, allegiance & commitment with USA, UK etc are Pakistan's rulers, even in case of UK one has to take oath as "SLAVE OF THE QUEEN" & loyal with UK over other interests.........
Such a great decision, it was a way long over due decision but its never too late. Bravo
Well done SC. Justice should be done. With this decision, you have closed the doors for all those people whose interests lie in western countries but run elections or lead parties in Pak. What about some one who is leader of one Karachi based party whose leader is with dual nationality? How can any run a party with dual nationality? Why is SC and media silent on it? Justice should be DONE across the board and for every one.