With the suspension of the memberships of Interior Minister Rehman Malik from the Senate and Farahnaz Ispahani’s from the National Assembly, and possibility of 14 other parliamentarians belonging to various political parties losing their assembly memberships, the government is seriously mulling amending the constitution to provide protection to dual nationality holders.
The Supreme Court on Monday suspended Malik’s membership of the Senate for having dual nationality. With the suspension of his membership, the ministerial slot falls vacant and all orders by Malik would be rendered illegal. The new situation has not only compelled the government to mull legislation to provide legal cover to Malik and Ispahani, but has posed concerns for the PML-N leadership, the reason Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Nisar Ali Khan sounded a little “soft” in his speech during Monday’s budget debate. The development might also lead to the PML-N and the PPP getting together again to bring the 21st Amendment in parliament.
However, Malik might be punished for lying to the government in filing false nomination papers on dual nationality on his election as senator. The court also issued notices to another 14 parliamentarians, allegedly having dual nationality on a plea by Waheed Anjum. Per the petition, the other legislators allegedly having dual nationality include some big fish from the PPP, PML-N, and MQM.
The MPs issued notices include PML-N’s Khawaja Asif, Finance Minister Hafeez Shaikh of the PPP, Anusha Rehman of the PML-N, Deputy Senate Chairman Sabir Ali Baloch, Muhammad Ikhlaq of the PML-N, Zahid Iqbal of the PPP, MQM’s Farhat Muhammad Khan, PPP’s Tariq Mahmood Alloana, Ashraf Chohan of the PML-N, PPP’s Ahmad Ali Shah, MQM’s Nadia Gabol, PPP’s Amna Bhuttar, PML-N’s Waseem Qadir and PML-N’s Nadeem Khadim. “The government is seriously mulling bringing in a constitutional amendment to give legal cover to its MPs, and a meeting of the members of the coalition partners chaired by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, has been convened today (Tuesday) at 4pm in the Committee Room No 2 of parliament,” a treasury member informed Pakistan Today.
The source said since six of the dual nationality holders belonged to the PML-N, there was a likelihood that the opposition and the treasury benches would join hands again to bring in a constitutional amendment.