The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought a report from top legal officer to establish whether or not the incumbent federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik has renounced his British nationality. A three-member bench led by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was hearing a petition, filed by Mehmood Akhtar Naqvi. The petitioner has sought disqualification of lawmakers holding dual nationalities.
According to him, parliamentarians Zahid Iqbal, Iftikhar Nazir and Rehman Malik have been holding British nationality while Farahnaz Ispahani, the spouse of former ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani, has been holding US nationality. Naqvi has sought a court order against all those parliamentarians and members of provincial assemblies who have been possessing dual nationality or citizenship.
Appearing on behalf of Farahnaz Isphani, Wasim Sajjad sought more time to file a reply, arguing that his client was busy in parliamentary proceedings. Attorney General for Pakistan Irfan Qadir suggested that proceeding would be initiated into the matter after the receipt of record of all parliamentarians who possessed dual nationality.
Justice Jawwad S Khawaja termed the matter of dual nationality holder parliamentarians a serious issue, saying that all those parliamentarians who retained dual nationality were not entitled to take part in parliamentary affairs constitutionally. The bench adjourned hearing of the case till May 25.
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