ISLAMABAD – The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday once again directed Federal Minister Faisal Vawda to appear before the Commission in person on February 24 in dual nationality case.
Headed by CEC Raja Sikandar Sultan, the five-member bench also fined Faisal Vawda and his lawyers Rs 50,000 due to their continuous absence from the hearing. The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Raja Sikandar Sultan during Tuesday’s hearing showed his annoyance over continuous absence of Faisal Vawda and hinted at taking assistance from the investigative agencies adue to non-cooperation of Faisal Vawda.
Husnain Ali Chohan, assistant lawyer of the counsel of Faisal Vawda, during the hearing requested the Commission to postpone hearing as Faisal Vawda’s lawyer Muhammad bin Muhsin was busy in Lahore High Court. In his response, member of ECP from Punjab Ibrahim Qureshi remarked that proceedings of the commission had nothing to do with proceedings of other courts. The CEC in his remarks lamented that despite several chances given by the Commission the minister was yet to appear before the Commission and cooperate with ECP.
Barring the assistant lawyer of Faisal Vawda from making arguments, the CEC stated that commission had given them several chances to submit reply but they failed. He remarked that Commission will not accept anymore adjournment pleas from Faisal Vawda; adding that Commission gave the minister several chances to prove his claims but he failed. Another member, Irshad Qaiser, questioned how the associate could oversee the case without having the power of attorney.
Meanwhile, the petitioner, Qadir Khan Mandokhel during the hearing said that the Supreme Court had previously disqualified Haroon Akhtar and Saeeda Abbasi from their Senate membership after they were proven to be holding American citizenship. He elaborated that Faisal Vawda too had concealed his dual nationality and he must also be disqualified as precedent is already set.
It must be noted that petitioner Qadir Khan Mandokhel had filed the petition against Federal Minister Faisal Vawda stating that Vawda had concealed his dual nationality at the time of filing of his nomination papers and falsely declared on oath before the ECP that he didn’t have any foreign nationality.
The petition further said that the PTI minister had submitted his nomination papers on the last date which were cleared on June 18, adding that Vawda applied for renunciation of his US nationality in the US Consulate, Karachi, on June 22 and the latter issued him the certificate on June 25.
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