Dual nationality case: Farahnaz Ispahani ‘required’ to appear in court on Feb 4

Rehman Malik’s counsel seeks acquittal on grounds of ‘lack of evidence’.

KARACHI: Interior minister Rehman Malik has accused the Election Commission of Pakistan for taking action against him “with a prejudice mind” while moving an application for acquittal in a district and sessions court on Thursday.

On a directive of the apex court, the regional election commissioner of Karachi, Syed Mehmood Akhtar Naqvi, had filed complaints against Abdul Rehman Malik, Farahnaz Ispahani of the Pakistan People’s Party and Nadia Gabol of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement for filing false declarations along with their nomination papers for elections, to conceal their dual nationality.

Malik stated through his counsel, Muhammad Azhar, that the election commissioner had filed the complaint against him “with ill-will and prejudice mind” because a number of parliamentarians had resigned when they were specifically asked to file sworn affidavits that they were not holding any foreign nationality.

Malik stated that the election commission has not taken any action against them even some of them have been re-elected in the by-elections.

Malik’s counsel argues that the complainant has not brought any evidence on record which could impeach the content of declaration.

Azhar moved the application for acquittal in the case under section 265-K (power of court to acquit accused at any stage) of Criminal Procedure Code before the court.

Malik and Nadia Gabol were present during the hearing while the counsel for Farah Naz Ispahani filed an application for condonation of absence. The counsel stated that Ispahani was ill and under treatment at Maggie Glen, Lake City, of United States of America.

“Last chance is extended to the accused and the absence of the accused is being excused in the best interest of the justice,” said the district and sessions judge, South, Ahmed Saba, adding “the accused is required to appear before the court on the next date of hearing positively.”

The hearing has been put off till February 4.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 14^th, 2012.