Lahore High Court Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Friday gave another opportunity to PML-N MPA Rana Asif to appear before the court on July 5 in a plea filed against his dual nationality.
The CJ was hearing the petition filed by Faisal Ilyas Sadiq through his counsel Saif-ul-Malook seeking the disqualification of MPA Rana Asif. As the proceedings started, Rana Asif’s counsel appeared before the court and told the court that the respondent MPA could not appear before the court as he was ill and receiving treatment at a hospital in Karachi. The counsel also told the court that Rana Asif was a Canadian national but not a citizen. However, the court declined to accept Rana Asif’s medical certificate but gave him another chance to appear before the court on July 5. The court had summoned MPA Rana Asif to explain why a Pakistan Origin Card was issued to him, if he did not have dual nationality.
The petitioner submitted that Rana Asif was a Muslim but elected as a Provincial Assembly member in the general elections 2008 against one of the seats reserved for minorities.