Details requested: SHC asks judges about nationality

Issues forms seeking particulars of the citizenship of judicial officers.

KARACHI:

In the footsteps of public representatives, the judiciary is looking within its own institution for those having dual nationality.

In this regard, the judicial officers performing their duties in the superior and subordinate courts have been asked to submit details as to whether they hold the nationality of only Pakistan or any other country as well.

Sources told The Express Tribune that the registrar of the Sindh High Court has issued forms, asking the judicial officers of the high court, including the judges, to furnish details of their nationality.

Fifteen days time has been given to submit the forms seeking details of nationality of the judges.

Meanwhile, the member of the high court’s inspection team also issued similar forms to all the judicial officers in the province through the concerned district and sessions judges.

“The district and sessions judges have also been directed to furnish details of their nationality and submit the forms to the high court through an inspection team member,” the sources added.



It is understood that the judiciary had come under fire after it declared lawmakers holding dual nationalities ineligible to hold public offices and disqualified.

Sources said that the move to collect judges’ details about their nationality was part of the judiciary’s efforts to keep a watchful eye within its own institute.

As part of these efforts, the Sindh High Court’s registrar had also directed all of its officers, whose annual income was Rs500,000 or more, to furnish the return of their income “electronically” for the tax year along with proof of deduction or payment of income tax and wealth statement as required under section 116 of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 13^th, 2013.