Spreading The Hunt: Interior ministry directed to verify dual nationals
The ministry was directed to report back within three weeks.
ISLAMABAD:
While the Supreme Court granted exemption to the interior minister from appearing before it in the dual nationality case, it directed his ministry to verify the names of dual national lawmakers, including some key members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Pakistan Peoples Party.
The ministry was directed to report back within three weeks.
During Thursday’s hearing of the case pertaining to parliamentarians with dual nationality, Malik denied making any claim of having information on lawmakers who were dual nationals. Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, who was heading a three-member bench, however, didn’t let him off the hook so easily. He questioned the minister’s retraction from his earlier statement, adding that his denial did not correspond with the stature of his office.
In turn, Malik pleaded that as the interior minister his statements are protected by the Constitution of Pakistan and that he believed the court should respect that.
The minister further added that, in pursuance of the court’s orders, he was ready to submit the names of dual nationality holding parliamentarians after they submit their fresh declarations to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). He also requested the bench to exempt him appearing before the court in the matter.
He further contended that the ECP has sought affidavits from all parliamentarians by October 30, adding that concerned officials were deputed to work on a report relating to a list of dual nationality holding parliamentarians.
Justice Khawaja asked the interior ministry to check the status of the dual nationality of Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan, Dr Asim Hussain, Nadir Magsi, Babar Ghauri, Rauf Siddiqui, Wasim Akhtar and Sasi Palijo.
Malik was directed to submit a record of lawmakers with dual nationality to the Supreme Court Registrar through the interior secretary within three weeks.
The bench adjourned the case for an indefinite period.
Supreme Court vs Rehman Malik
May 29
Supreme Court (SC) observes the documents presented by Rehman Malik’s counsel did not have the declaration of the interior minister renouncing his British citizenship
July 10
Malik announces his resignation from the Senate
September 12
SC castigates Malik for submitting a false declaration in court
September 20
SC castigates Malik for submitting a false declaration in court
September 20
Malik reportedly states that there still remain in the houses of parliament, persons who are dual nationals. Consequently SC directs Malik to reveal names
September 23
Malik backtracks from his earlier statement that he is in possession of a list of several parliamentarians who have escaped disqualification by hiding their dual nationality status
October 17
SC orders Malik to submit a list of parliamentarians and legislators with dual nationalities by October 18
Published in The Express Tribune, October 19th, 2012.
While the Supreme Court granted exemption to the interior minister from appearing before it in the dual nationality case, it directed his ministry to verify the names of dual national lawmakers, including some key members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Pakistan Peoples Party.
The ministry was directed to report back within three weeks.
During Thursday’s hearing of the case pertaining to parliamentarians with dual nationality, Malik denied making any claim of having information on lawmakers who were dual nationals. Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, who was heading a three-member bench, however, didn’t let him off the hook so easily. He questioned the minister’s retraction from his earlier statement, adding that his denial did not correspond with the stature of his office.
In turn, Malik pleaded that as the interior minister his statements are protected by the Constitution of Pakistan and that he believed the court should respect that.
The minister further added that, in pursuance of the court’s orders, he was ready to submit the names of dual nationality holding parliamentarians after they submit their fresh declarations to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). He also requested the bench to exempt him appearing before the court in the matter.
He further contended that the ECP has sought affidavits from all parliamentarians by October 30, adding that concerned officials were deputed to work on a report relating to a list of dual nationality holding parliamentarians.
Justice Khawaja asked the interior ministry to check the status of the dual nationality of Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan, Dr Asim Hussain, Nadir Magsi, Babar Ghauri, Rauf Siddiqui, Wasim Akhtar and Sasi Palijo.
Malik was directed to submit a record of lawmakers with dual nationality to the Supreme Court Registrar through the interior secretary within three weeks.
The bench adjourned the case for an indefinite period.
Supreme Court vs Rehman Malik
May 29
Supreme Court (SC) observes the documents presented by Rehman Malik’s counsel did not have the declaration of the interior minister renouncing his British citizenship
July 10
Malik announces his resignation from the Senate
September 12
SC castigates Malik for submitting a false declaration in court
September 20
SC castigates Malik for submitting a false declaration in court
September 20
Malik reportedly states that there still remain in the houses of parliament, persons who are dual nationals. Consequently SC directs Malik to reveal names
September 23
Malik backtracks from his earlier statement that he is in possession of a list of several parliamentarians who have escaped disqualification by hiding their dual nationality status
October 17
SC orders Malik to submit a list of parliamentarians and legislators with dual nationalities by October 18
Published in The Express Tribune, October 19th, 2012.