ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday resumed the hearingof former ruling party leader Faisal Vawda’s appeal against hisdisqualification in the dual nationality case.
Another ‘lie’ of the PTI Sindh chapter leader surfaced as a three-memberbench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial heard his appealagainst disqualification by the Election Commission of Pakistan overconcealment of his dual nationality at the time of contesting the electionin the general elections.
During the hearing, the top court asked how can an expired and canceledpassport can be proof of abandonment of nationality.
Pakistan’s first woman judge in the top court, Justice Ayesha Malik,remarked that Vawda submitted an expired passport to the returning officerin 2018 and mentioned that for renewal of the passport, a cancellationstamp must be placed on the old one.
How can an expired passport be proof of relinquishment of citizenship?” sheasked.
Vawda’s lawyer, however, argued that the RO expressed satisfaction afterreviewing his expired passport.
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The country’s top judge Justice Umar Ata Bandial remarked that the matterhad become quite serious while Justice Mansoor Ali Shah said another ‘lie’of former ruling PTI had surfaced.
As Vawda’s counsel, Waseem Sajjad, maintained that the content of theaffidavit was the same and his client did not possess an American passport.To this, Justice Mansoor corrected him, saying that the affidavit declaredthat the PTI leader did not possess dual nationality.
After the arguments, Vawda’s lawyer sought more time from the Supreme courtfor preparation; the court later adjourned the case hearing till next week.
Earlier this year, the Election Commission of Pakistan disqualified FaisalVawda over the concealment of his dual nationality at the time ofcontesting the 2018 general polls.
