LAHOR - District and Sessions Judge Nazir Ahmed Ganjana on Thursday issued arrest warrants for two former parliamentarians including PPP MPA Amna Butter and PML-Q MNA Begum Shahnaz Sheikh for deifying the court orders in dual nationality cases.
The court has directed authorities concerned to make sure the arrest and produce them in the court by February 25.
The court had directed many times said former parliamentarians to appear before the court but they did not bother to comply with the court orders which forced judge to issue their bailable arrest warrants.
However, the court has given another chance to PML-N MPA Rana Asif Mehmod as his counsel appeared before the court requesting and assuring that his client will appear on the next hearing.
On October 18, 2012, the apex court had disqualified Shehnaz Sheikh over dual nationality and directed the National Assembly secretary to recover the fiscal benefits she enjoyed being MPA. The election commission was also directed to proceed against her according to the law. On June 14, 2012 the court had given the verdict of same nature against Amna Butter for having nationality of the USA. Later, Lahore regional election commissioner filed petitions against them in sessions court.
The Election Commission contended the court that accused persons contested elections in 2008 declaring on oath that they were qualified under Article 62 and were not subject to any disqualification provided under article 63 of the constitution to become a candidate for the said seat.
It contended that respondents were required to be the citizens of Pakistan and not be foreigner nationals to contest the election of the Assembly.