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Dual nationality: SC suspends MNA Shehnaz Sheikh


ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) resumed hearing of the dual nationality case Wednesday and suspended the National Assembly membership of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) MNA and Petroleum Secretary Shehnaz Sheikh, Geo News reported.

Shehnaz Sheikh was said to be a holder of Australian nationality while being a Pakistani national and a member of the National Assembly.

The SC has also issued notice to MNA Rai Ghulam Mujtaba who was summoned by the court to confirm whether he was a Canadian national or not.

A three-member bench of the SC headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry resumed hearing of the dual nationality case today.

In compliance with the SC notices, Federal Interior Minister Rahman Malik and a few other lawmakers besides the Information Secretary appeared before the apex court today.

During proceedings, Rehman Malik informed the court that he did not have any other list of the parliamentarians holding dual nationality. He told that he remembers few names who have resigned today. When asked, Malik named MNA Tahir Ali Javed.

Later, the court directed Rehman Malik to submit a written record regarding the parliamentarians holding dual citizenship and adjourned the hearing till October 17.

Earlier, the information secretary was directed to submit transcript of the interior minister’s press conference wherein he made the statement that if asked by SC or government, he could supply the names of lawmakers who enjoy dual nationality.

Rahman Malik has denied dual nationality statement and while submitting his reply in the Supreme Court, he said that he has not given any statement about the dual nationality of any other Assembly member.

A miscellaneous petition to remove Rehman Malik and disqualify two other government members from holding office has been filed in the Supreme Court.

The written statement submitted by Rehman Malik in the Supreme Court said that he had not said anything about dual nationality of any other parliamentarian and a denial had been printed in the newspapers.

The chief petitioner in this case Mohammad Akhtar Naqvi has adopted a stance that in light of the court’s order Rehman Malik’s credibility is now questionable and he should be declared ineligible. The petition also challenged the eligibility of PPP’s assembly member Rai Ghulam Mujtaba and Shahnaz Sheikh.

According to the petition, Rai Ghulam Mujtaba and Shahnaz Sheikh concealed their Canadian and Australian nationalities.

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