ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday suspended the National Database and Registration Authority’s (NADRA) decision to cancel the citizenship of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Hafiz Hamdullah.
Hearing a petition filed by the former senator, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah sought a reply from NADRA within two weeks and directed the authority as well as the Interior Ministry not to take any action against Hamdullah.
In a letter dated Oct 11, NADRA said that Hamdullah “is not a citizen of Pakistan,” adding: “Therefore, NADRA vide its orders U/S 18(1) & 17(2) has canceled and digitally impounded the CNIC issued to Mr Hafiz Hamdullah Saboor.”
Subsequently, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) directed all television channels to stop inviting the JUI-F leader on talk shows.
During Tuesday’s hearing, the defense counsel questioned the basis of NADRA’s move since Hamdullah had contested multiple elections before and also served as a senator.
Upon asking, a NADRA representative, who was representing the authority, told the court that action on Hamdullah’s nationality was also taken in December last year as his documents, submitted to a district-level committee, were proven fake and the committee was informed as well.
According to him, a letter was written to the ex-senator regarding his citizenship status and Hamdullah had also appeared before a district-level committee to discuss the matter.
“The committee asked Hamdullah for his documentation and the documents he submitted turned out to be bogus,” said the NADRA official.
Justice Minallah inquired about the whereabouts of Hamadullah’s children and was told that one of them was currently serving in the Pakistan Army.
“If a mother is willing to sacrifice her son for this soil, then how is her husband’s citizenship being doubted?” the IHC chief justice remarked.
The court also suspended the PEMRA notification barring Hamdullah from television appearances, stating that “only the federal government holds the authority to pass such an order”.
Hafiz Hamdullah has contested general assembly elections for six times. He remained a member of the Senate on a JUI-F ticket from March 2012 to March 2018. He had also been a health minister in the Balochistan cabinet from 2002 to 2006.
