ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday admitted for hearing a review petition for the disqualification of Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah that pertains to the chief minister holding a “dual nationality”.
A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Azmat Saeed, reviewed the petition filed against the chief minister.
Petitioner Roshan Ali Buriro’s lawyer Hamid Khan, alleged that Murad had sworn a false oath in 2013 as he did not submit any kind of proof which could confirm that he has abandoned Canadian citizenship.
Justice Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijazul Ahsan then issued a notice to the chief minister on the matter.
Earlier, in January, the Supreme Court threw out Buriro’s application seeking Shah’s disqualification on the grounds that the petitioner had failed to satisfy the court with logical arguments.
Justice Bandial, at that time, believed that Murad had abandoned his dual nationality in 2013 and stated that after vacating nationality, there is no reason left to disqualify him for dual nationality.
“The prima facie grounds for disqualification are not apparent in this case,” Justice Bandial had observed at that time.
He further observed that the petitioner’s intent was doubtful as he was a political opponent of Shah in the same constituency.
During the hearing, Justice Bandial also pointed out that a court declaration regarding Article 62 is needed in the matter. Replying to which, Justice Saeed explained that a court order is sufficient as a court declaration.
“Every electoral candidate furnishes a declaration to the returning officer and Article 62(1)(f) of the constitution applies to any declarations that are not based on the truth,” Justice Saeed said, accepting the review petition.
