ISLAMABAD – Taking notice of PPP leader Raja Riaz’s statement that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was a dual national, the Supreme Court has summoned the two leaders on October 17. The apex court has already suspended memberships of several dual national parliamentarians under the certain constitutional clauses.Raja Riaz, opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly, had alleged that PML-N leader Shahbaz Sharif held dual nationality. Hence, the court issued notices to both the parliamentarians as well as editors of an Urdu and two English newspapers for appearance before the court on October 17. Other assembly members, suspected of having dual citizenship, are also under scrutiny of the court.In its order of September 20 on such a case, the court held, “A parliamentarian or member of provincial assembly, who is holder of dual citizenship, as it has been envisaged in Article 63(1)(c) of the Constitution, is not qualified from being elected or chosen as, and from being, a member of the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament)”.“Notice be also issued to Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, Member Provincial Assembly, Punjab to appear and explain as to whether, according to assertion of Raja Riaz Ahmad which published in newspapers, he is a holder of dual citizenship and is not qualified to be Member of Provincial Assembly in terms of Article 63(1)(c) of the Constitution”, the court said in its notices.






