Rehman malik acquittal: SHC asks petitioner how he is aggrieved by the decision

KARACHI:

Former interior minister Abdul Rehman Malik's acquittal in the dual nationality case was challenged in the Sindh High Court on Tuesday.

However, instead of proceeding with the matter, Justice Abdul Rasool Memon, head of the single bench, directed petitioner Syed Mehmood Akhtar Naqvi to first establish how he is aggrieved by the acquittal of the former minister.

Through its landmark judgment, the Supreme Court had disqualified all members of the parliament, including Malik, who had concealed their dual nationality when filing their nomination papers. Subsequently, the Election Commission of Pakistan filed a case against Malik for the false declaration of his citizenship.

However, a district and sessions judge acquitted him of the charges on September 4, observing that the 'recording of the evidence could not lead to a conviction of the accused, who is holding the office of the senator'.

The petitioner challenged the acquittal order, arguing that the trial court had failed to examine the evidence he had brought on record before passing its final order. He had pleaded to the court to nullify Malik's acquittal.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 10^th, 2014.