ISLAMABAD - As the federal cabinet approved the bill allowing the dual nationals to become member of assemblies, the Supreme Court on Wednesday suspended the membership of two more parliamentarians belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).
The court also ordered registration of criminal complaints against director general, deputy director and other officials of Federal Investigative Agency (FIA) for misguiding and providing false and fabricated information regarding dual nationality of an MPA from Punjab. The Islamabad Police chief was directed to supervise the investigation and submit report on a weekly basis.
The FIA, on the application of petitioner Waheed Anjum, provided false and fabricated information about Tariq Mehmood Alloana, Punjab Assembly MPA, that he was a US national, despite Alloana’s denial before the court and an affidavit that he holds Pakistani citizenship and never travelled to any other country, except to Saudi Arabia for performing pilgrimage.
The court noted that although the FIA knew the importance of the case, it provided wrong information about the respected lawmaker. The chief justice said all institutions were constitutionally bound to assist the apex court, but the FIA acted otherwise.
Meanwhile, the court suspended the membership of two MQM lawmakers - Farhat Mehmood Khan MNA from NA-245, who held US citizenship, and Nadia Gabol, MPA from PS-148, holding British nationality.
The bench said despite the notices served to them, they did not appear before the court in person or through their counsel to clarify their position.
Treating at par with other MNAs and MPAs, whose membership were suspended for holding dual nationality, the membership of Farhat and Nadia Gabol were suspended under Article 63(1)(C).
The court order said they were not allowed to participate in the proceedings of the assemblies and the standing committees. It added that if both the parliamentarians had any objection regarding suspension of their membership, they could come forward before the apex court.
On the application of Syed Mehmood Akhtar Naqvi, a petitioner, the court issued notices to the federation and Rehman Malik, advisor to prime minister on interior.
Naqvi has prayed in his application that Malik should be stopped from working as PM advisor on interior as the court had suspended his membership as senator and ministership.
The court deferred the cases of Dr Muhammad Ashraf Chohan and Khadim Nadeem as they had sent separate applications to the bench. Chohan requested he was sick, while Nadeem prayed that he was out of the country, therefore, they could not appear before the court and their cases be adjourned. However, notices were again served to them and directed to engage counsels to plead their cases.
Later, the hearing was adjourned for two weeks.
SC suspends two MQM lawmakers