Dual nationals: Charges against former lawmakers

LAHORE: District and Sessions Judge Nazir Ahmed Ganjana on Wednesday issued notices to former lawmakers, Shahnaz Sheikh, Amna Buttar and Rana Asif Mehmood, charged with illegally receiving benefits as assembly members despite being dual nationals. Judge Ganjana summoned prosecution witnesses and evidence against former MNA Shahnaz Sheikh by March 5. The apex court had earlier disqualified Shaikh for being an Australian national and directed the National Assembly secretary to recover benefits she had availed as an MNA. The judge issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Amna Buttar for failing to respond to court summons. The court had earlier issued bailable arrest warrants against Buttar but she did not appear in court. The court has now directed police to arrest Buttar and produce her before the court on March 2. The Supreme Court had earlier disqualified Buttar for being a US national and directed the National Assembly secretary to recover the benefits she had availed as an MPA. The court provided copies of court records to former MPA Rana Asif Mehmood and will frame charges against him on March 2.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2013.