LAHORE, July 5: The Lahore High Court chief justice on Thursday directed PML-N MPA Rana Asif Mahmood to submit his written reply in response to a petition seeking his disqualification on the ground of having dual nationality.

Earlier, the MPA appeared in the court and expressed his regrets for not appearing on previous hearing in compliance with a court notice, saying he was hospitalized.

Mr Mahmood in his defence said though he had a Canadian Passport, he did not have the citizenship of the country.

At this, petitioner’s counsel pointed out that under the Canadian law getting the passport amounted to citizenship.

He said the Supreme Court had already suspended assembly membership of many parliamentarians on the same ground (dual nationality). Therefore, he said, the membership of the respondent should also be suspended.

The chief justice adjourned hearing till July 10 and directed the respondent MPA to come up with a reply.

A citizen Faisal Ilyas Sadiq had filed the petition seeking disqualification of the MPA Mahmood. The petitioner submitted that the respondent was a Canadian national and under Article 63 of the Constitution a person holding dual nationality could not be elected as member of assembly.

He further said though Mahmood was a Muslim, he got elected as a Punjab Assembly member in general elections 2008 against a seat reserved for non-Muslims. The petitioner prayed the respondent be declared disqualified.