SC directs ECP to withhold notifications of newly elected dual nationality senators

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Monday ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to withhold notifications announcing the victory of senators-elect for holding dual nationalities.

Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar took notice while hearing a suo motu case concerning civil servants holding dual nationality.

The chief justice, Justice Nisar asked how many senators were dual nationals.

The attorney general replied that four senators-elect, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) Chaudhry Sarwar, Sadia Abbasi, Nuzhat Sadiq and Haroon Akhtar of PML-N possessed dual nationalities.

ECP Secretary Babar Yaqoob informed the court that PTI's Sarwar is believed to be a UK national, while Nuzhat Sadiq and Sadia hold a US nationality.

The ECP secretary said that the senators holding dual nationality had submitted affidavits claiming that they have given up their nationality of the other country, but had not submitted any legal documents confirming the same.

The Supreme Court (SC) subsequently ordered the ECP to withhold the notifications of the senators in question and adjourned hearing of the case till March 8.