Dual nationality: PML-Q MPA Faiza Asghar resigns
Recently, the Election Commission of Pakistan had asked all members of parliament as well as provincial assemblies to file a fresh declaration stating their nationality status after the Supreme Court disqualified some dual national lawmakers and directed it to proceed with legal formalities.
According to her profile on the Punjab Assembly website, Asghar is an American qualified paediatrician and was elected as an MPA in the 2008 general elections taking up one of the seats reserved for women.
Earlier in 2011, Asghar was accused of embezzling money meant for poor children who had been smuggled out of Pakistan to serve as camel jockeys.
Asghar had denied the charges and said she was being victimised because she is a member of the PML-Q.
Dual nationality
The Supreme Court, while hearing the dual nationality case, had also suspended the National Assembly membership of PML-Q MNA Shehnaz Sheikh.
The MNA was said to be a holder of Australian nationality while being a Pakistani national and a member of the National Assembly.
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What a waste of time and energy. For God’s sake CEC sahib, you should prepare for the new election. And who are you to call 2 million ex pats half Pakistani’s. Who are you to label us as less patriotic? If we stop sending the 13 billion dollars, you want enjoy your flagged car and air-conditioned office. Have some real plan for impartial and fair election. Please do not waste time and public money on so called dual nationality issue. No one sneaked in. EC and the courts had to interpret the constitution and make rules accordingly. They should have told the candidates clearly what the interpretation of the constitution instead of making them read and interpret it. In many Cases SC has come up with bizarre interpretations, so ordinary people don’t know. In short these two institutions had failed to ensure that constitution is followed and they are now trying to pin their failure on others.
@sehr qadri: We are talking about her resignation and not about her honesty or charges. I do not know what charges you are talking about?As far as her timing of resignation is concerned, it looks like she is a US citizen (Naturalized) and that is the main reason, she resigned. To serve the motherland, there are many ways to help. You do not have to becomeMPA OR MNA. If she is so honest , she should have returned all the money which she received in the form of PAY and BENEFITS while she was MPA. She will not get POOR. Would you please tell us about those charges? What those charges were? I know this much this is not the first time she had BRUSH with the LAW.Please go on google search under her name and read about Doctors' hosp case. thanks
@Alam khan:
Mind enlightening us as to how brilliantly the parliament performed when it did have graduate public representatives sitting in the house which was presided over a dictator, military establishment and agencies? Weren't the erudite graduates of the 2002-2007 parliament involved in massive embezzlement of the treasury, homicide, corruption and most importantly; providing indemnity to a dictator? Dear Sir, if this is what the conduct of the Educated "Graduates" stands for; than will all due respect - we don't have an iota of problem with having ignoramuses and uneducated uncouths representing us in parliament.
Losing an honest and MPA, one of the very few we have. She has been cleared of all charges so maybe we should check our facts before throwing around baseless accusations. She was a part of the opposition and her good work could not be tolerated
Actually she should have had the moral courage of resigning and fighting allegations of embezzling money meant for poor children who had been smuggled out of Pakistan to serve as camel jockeys.
You are really lacking sense ,, African countries have better legal systems than you in Pakistan . For your information western nations always support a national cause and national security, they don't go to hang full parliament.You are unable to see the difference between common practice and a crime ,in view of the large number of members it would have been prudent to amend the law for this parliament to provide protection till next election. This would have been the same as protection provided to subversion of constitution by your current PCO judges and the immunity granted to these judges for working under and suporting genral Musharaf.,And for your information people who really need a citizenship of another country can always get it, politicians can claim asylum and people with money can go and settle anywhere in the world The issue is only political and a revenge phenomenon against PPP In the western world people like mr chaudhary would have long been prosecuted and removed and any honourable judge would have resigned long befor people started hurling allegations of CORUPTION against them, with credible proof, on television @Logic Moron:
Did she take any loans from the local Banks? She is a bad example like Fauzia Gillani( ex prime minister wife). Fauzia Gillani took loans from ZTBL (BANK) in the amount of Rs 200 million( 20 crore). She did not make any payments. Total amount went to Rs 570 million (57 crore) Then she settled this amount for 45million (4.5 crore) A discount of Rs525million (52crore). Please go to google search under Fauzia Gillani for more information. these kind of people should be put in JAIL for rest of their life so they can not ROB the country
@Alam khan: Dont worry my friend. We ve seen all of them play their innings. Dont think pakistan has dearth of good ppl. We ll insha Allah find others better than them.
I am waiting for next shoe to drop. when CEC will take next step for prosecution?
Can we have a picture of an Australian passport rather than a British one then ??
@naeem khan Manhattan,Ks: I agree with you. Please go to Google search under her name. her office address is given as practicing in Cuba, NY 14727 but no Tel # is given. Per Google ,she is 60 yrs old, graduate of 1975 from KE Lahore Pakistan.
Too late for just resignation , Anyone who resign on this basis should stand trial for willfully cheating on law of land.
@Alam khan: we the citizens of pakistan completely support the CEC, if u are so bothered then ask for a referendum lets see once and for all what happens. Dr Muhammad Ahsan, Lahore.
@Logic. Europe:
"When a large majority of legislators have dual nationality then it should be accepted as common practice"
This seems more of a logic from a person living in a remote African jungle who has never heard of law; cannot be "European Logic".
Dr.Faiza Asghar is not out of the woods yet, she should be prosecuted for willfully cheating and lied to the Pakistan Election Commission about her status. The constitution of Pakistan prohibited her to run for election but she ignored the laws of Pakistan, ignorance of laws is no excuse in the court of law. Beside she will be prosecuted in the US also because she is a US citizen and has taken oath of allegiance to the Pakistani constitution and flag before renouncing her US citizenship. Doctor come back to Wisconsin, jail warden is waiting for you.
When will be next step taken ? Did she already leave the country? If not please freeze her accounts and put her on EXIT control list.
@Logic. Europe:
Two wrong ( one when such case of dual nationality in the past & one now under discussion ) cannot make one right...this case is not one-sided by SC but as per constitutional clause 63 (1-C ) & mind it this clause is in the constitution adopted by the parliament, by the MPs....yet u want that this wrong should be accepted ? can you dare to do such a mis-declaration in yr new adopted country...? you mean constitution is just a paper that can be thrown in garbage....these same MPs are shouting that " Parliament is supreme & constitution is supreme "..then why are they not following it..?
The spirit of law is being ignored The so called book is being thrown at politicians by the judges that are doing mischief hiding behind the respect of judiciary All business of state is paralyded everu body is ghilty and corupt except judges and their political suporters When a large majority of legislators have dual nationality then it should be accepted as common practice till next election and people will decide Same judges didnot blink an eye during musharafs time when wven more members had dual nationality
Good Stand of CJP, A real hero of our revolution. The way he is cleaning the garbage of Pakistan