The Supreme Court on Monday suspended Interior Minister Rehman Malik from the Senate (the Upper House of Parliament) for failing to produce the necessary documents to establish that he had given up his British nationality.
He is the second senior politician of the ruling Pakistan People's Party to be suspended from Parliament over dual nationality; the first being Farahanaz Ispahani, wife of former Ambassador to the U.S. Husain Haqqani.
Mr. Malik's fate following the verdict remained uncertain but in the past — prior to his election to the Upper House — he held the status of federal minister as adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior and Narcotics.
While hearing the case regarding dual nationality of parliamentarians, the Court had given Mr. Malik more than one opportunity to produce a document that clearly establishes he had given up his British nationality.
His statement declaring surrender of British nationality was deemed as unacceptable as the three-judge bench wanted him to furnish the relevant document from the U. K. Border Agency.
Disqualified
According to Article 63 (1) (c) of the Constitution, a Member of Parliament can be disqualified if he ceases to be a citizen of Pakistan or acquires the citizenship of a foreign State. Dual nationality is otherwise an accepted norm by law in Pakistan and a sizable number of the Pakistani elite hold two passports.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court admitted a similar petition against dual nationality in which 17 more legislators from various political parties have been named including federal Finance Minister Hafiz Sheikh.
With the Supreme Court's ruling in Ms. Ispahani's case questioning her loyalty to Pakistan because of her dual nationality, politicians are now asking why the same is not being applied to bureaucrats as they too hold key decision-making posts.
