F.P. Report
ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court (SC) has halted issuance of notifications to freshly elected senators who possess dual nationalities of two countries.
The development came two days after Senate elections 2018 were held which witnessed federally ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) winning majority out of the 52 total senators which were elected.
Attorney General of Pakistan told the court today that four of the 52 fresh senators hold dual citizenship which is objectionable. The top court ordered Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to halt issuance of notification to the new members of the Upper House.
The four senators are namely, Chaudhry Sarwar of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) who is the only opposition member elected to Senate from Punjab, Haroon Akhtar, Nuzhat Sadiq and Sadia.
Chaudhry Sarwar and Haroon Akhtar have denied being nationals of two countries.
Ch Sarwar clarifies
While offering a clarification on the issue, Chaudhry Sarwar asserted that he had relinquished his British citizenship long ago. He said that he had returned his passport to British Home Department.
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Chaudhry Sarwar produces renunciation document
PTI’s winning sentor from Punjab further asserted that he was not part of any horse trading in the polls and won the seat in the Upper House on merit. Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) supported him on merit, he added.
Candidates of PML-N who contested Senate polls held on March 3 were recorded by authorities as independent candidates as then PML-N head Nawaz Sharif was disqualified and banned to assume party chief s office following his ouster as premier.
PML-N bagged 11 seats in Senate from Punjab while PTI won one seat.
