PML-N MNA suspended for dual nationality

Islamabad:The Supreme Court of Pakistan has suspended the membership of another parliamentarian, this time belonging to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, for holding dual nationality of Holland.

Malik Jamil Awan was elected MNA from NA-107, Gujrat constituency on PML-N ticket.

The court had already suspended the membership of Farahnaz Ispahani, MNA,Rehman Malik, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Interior, PPP’s MNA Zahid Iqbal, Muhammad Ikhlaq and Amna Butter, MPAs of the Punjab Assembly, and Dr Ahmed Ali, MPA, Sindh Assembly for holding dual nationalities.

During the proceedings, the chief justice said if the process of dual nationality of parliamentarians would not be dealt with properly in future country’s prime minister would be an foriegn businessman. The court observed that in past such people had been taking over as premier who on completion of their term left the country with their briefcases.

The court observed that if dual nationals would become the prime minister of the country then one could imagine what would be the fate of Pakistan. The chief justice said there was a debate in media to amend the article related to dual nationality and Waseem Sajjad, counsel for Farahnaz also requested the court that the word ‘or’ in Article 63(1)(c) should be read as ‘and’. The chief justice said legislation is the job of parliament, therefore, they would not amend the constitution.

Mansoor further argued that the cases of parliamentarians’ disqualification should be sent to the proper forum (speaker/chairman) as the apex court had no jurisdiction. The chief justice said: “If the country’s prime minister and chief justice can be tried why not others?”