LAHORE, June 29: The counsel for PML-N MPA Rana Asif Mahmood told the Lahore High Court on Friday his client failed to personally appear and defend dual nationality charges against him due to bad health.

His counsel, Jamshed Rehmatullah, stated his client was admitted to a Karachi hospital for treatment.

The LHC chief justice had on the last hearing directed the MPA to appear in the court and explain his position in the case.

The counsel in his arguments told the court that Mahmood did not possess the Canadian nationality but enjoyed the status of a permanent resident only.

Petitioner’s counsel Saiful Mulook pointed out if Mahmood was not a Canadian national, then why an overseas identification card was issued to him.

As the arguments were in progress, the chief justice adjourned the hearing till July 5 and directed the MPA to appear before court.

Faisal Ilyas Sadiq filed the petition seeking disqualification of Rana Asif Mahmood.

The petitioner submitted the respondent MPA was a Canadian national and under Article 63 of the Constitution a person holding dual nationality could not be elected as member of the assembly. He said Mahmood was a Muslim but elected as Punjab Assembly member in general elections 2008 against the seat reserved for non-Muslims. — Staff Reporter