Pak SC sacks another PPP leader from National Assembly

The Pakistan Supreme Court on Monday suspended a Pakistan Peoples Party leader's membership of Parliament on the ground that he possesses dual nationality, taking the number of lawmakers suspended so far to six.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry suspended the membership of PPP lawmaker Zahid Iqbal, who represents Sahiwal constituency of Punjab province in the National Assembly or lower house of Parliament.

The bench sent an order to the Speaker of the National Assembly that said Iqbal's membership would remain suspended till he submits proof to the court that he has only Pakistani citizenship.

Once Iqbal provides proof, the court will consider the restoration of his membership, the Chief Justice said.

In a related development, PML-N parliamentarian Jamil Awan confessed possessing dual nationality during the hearing but the bench did not take any action against him.

The bench subsequently adjourned the matter till July 2.

On June 14, the Supreme Court suspended the membership of three lawmakers of provincial assemblies of Sindh and Punjab.

On June 4, the court suspended PPP leader Rehman Malik's membership of the Senate or upper house of Parliament on the ground that he had failed to provide proof of renouncing his British citizenship. At the time, Malik was the Interior Minister.

Following the action by the court, he was appointed a Special Advisor to the premier on interior affairs so that he could continue heading the Interior Ministry.

Earlier, the Supreme Court suspended the membership of PPP parliamentarian Farahnaz Ispahani, the media advisor to President Asif Ali Zardari, for holding US citizenship.