In-focus

Pakistan

Dual nationality: Riaz admits having no evidence against Shahbaz

Dunya News

Raja Riaz told Supreme Court that he had never said to have evidences against Shahbaz Sharif.

A three-member bench of the apex court comprising Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Jawad. S Khawaja heard the dual nationality case of lawmakers.During the hearing, the Supreme Court read out Raja Riaz’s earlier statements published in several newspapers in which he had claimed that there were reports of Sharif holding dual nationality.The opposition leader said that he had not claimed of having any proof. “I had only said that there were news about it and the relevant institution should look into the matter,” he said.The court remarked that the post of opposition leader is an important one and Riaz should have clarified his statement before he appeared before the bench.Naseer Bhutta, who is counsel of Shahbaz Sharif, said that he trusts Riaz and therefore, the hearing should be dismissed.Then the court disposed off all notices.Meanwhile, in the case of dual nationality of law makers, the Supreme Court heard the proceedings of the appeal that was filed by MPA Waseem Qadir.The Chief Justice said evidences to be provided for proving that MPA Waseem Qadir does not hold dual nationality.Upon which, Waseem Qadir said that his wife has nationality of Norway and he has only the permanent residential certificate of Norwary, hence he is not a dual national.Justice Jawad S. Khawaja remarked that only dual nationality is unconstitutional for Parliamentarians. Upon presenting the permanent residential certificate of Norway, the court ruled that Waseem Qadir does not hold dual nationality, restored his Punjab Assembly membership.Further, in the case of dual nationality of Member National Assembly (MNA) Shehnaz Sheikh, the Supreme Court ordered Election Commission to initiate criminal proceedings against her for hiding the facts.The Supreme Court further ruled that Shehnaz Sheikh has to return all salaries, perks and privileges.While on behalf of Rai Mujtaba Kharral, the Supreme Court was told that Kharral had dual nationality, but he had renounced his dual nationality in May, 2007 and participated in election as a Pakistani citizen.Upon which, the Supreme Court summoned journalist Umar Cheema for clarification because Cheema had reported that news.