Islamabad, Sep 30 (IANS) The Pakistan Supreme Court has issued notices to several legislators, including Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik, directing them to appear before the court in the dual nationality case.
The Associated Press of Pakistan said the apex court will hear the case Oct 3.
Notices have also been issued to Begum Shehnaz Sheikh, member of the National Assembly from the Pakistan Muslim League, and Ghulam Mujtaba Rai, also member of the National Assembly from the Pakistan Peoples Party.
Malik said in a recent press conference that if he is asked by the court or by the government, he could supply the names of parliamentarians and members of provincial assemblies who enjoy dual citizenship.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has sent letters to the secretaries of the two houses of parliament and the four provincial assemblies seeking fresh declarations from lawmakers that they do not hold nationality of any other country, the Dawn said.
Earlier, the apex court ruled that Malik was a British citizen till May 29, 2012, and that he was not transparent, and had filed a false declaration at the time of contesting the election to the Senate in 2008.
However, the court reserved its judgment in the case against Malik, and it will be announced at a later date.
Other disqualified member of the National Assembly include the Pakistan Peoples Party’s Farahnaz Ispahani and Zahid Iqbal, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Farhat Mahmood Khan and PML-Nawaz’s Jameel Awan.
Lawmakers disqualified from the Punjab assembly include PML-N’s Muhammad Ikhlaq, Ashraf Chauhan, Waseem Qadir, Nadeem Khadim and the PPP’s Amina Buttar.
Legislators disqualified from the Sindh assembly include the PPP’s Ahmed Ali Shah and MQM’s Nadia Gabol.
