LAHORE – Lahore High Court Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Tuesday summoned PML-N MPA Rana Asif to explain why Pakistan origin card was issued to him, if he did not have dual nationality.

Petitioner Faisal Ilyas Sadiq through his counsel Saiful Malook filed the petition and sought disqualification of MPA Rana Asif.
The petitioner submitted Rana Asif was a Muslim but elected as Member Provincial Assembly of the Punjab in general elections against a seat reserved for non-Muslim minorities.
He pointed out that Rana Asif was also a citizen of Canada and could not be elected as member of assembly under the constitution of Pakistan. Expressing concerns over dual nationality of Rana Asif Mehmood, the petitioner requested the court to issue directions for disqualification of the MPA.
Rana Asif’s counsel, however, opposed the contentions of petitioner and submitted that his client was a citizen of Pakistan and didn’t have the nationality of Canada.
The chief justice recorded the arguments of both parties and summoned the MPA for explanation. The court also directed the MPA to submit a written reply on June 29.
Meanwhile, the same court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of petitions challenging Shumaila Rana’s election as member provincial assembly.
Her counsel sought time for submission of reply. Honouring the request, the chief justice adjourned the hearing.
Petitioners Adeeba Ashraf and Aysha Ahsan submitted that Shumaila Rana was elected as a member provincial assembly in 2008 on a seat reserved for women but later she resigned from her seat due to involvement in a criminal case. They said the provincial election commission and deputy secretary election on April 24, 2012, issuing a notification had declared her a returned candidate despite the fact that she resigned from her seat.
 The petitioners contended that no election had been held for reserved seats, therefore, the notification was illegal and unlawful.
They pleaded the court to set aside the notification declaring Shumaila Rana as a returned candidate.