SC has opened Pandora’s Box with dual nationalities verdict: Asma Jahangir
Asma Jahangir – File photo
KARACHI: Former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association Asma Jahangir has termed Supreme Court’s verdict in the dual nationalities case akin to opening a Pandora’s Box, BBC Urdu reported on Friday.
Reacting to the apex court’s decision of declaring a member of the parliament ineligible for holding his position on the pretext of not being righteous, honest and ‘ameen,’ Jahangir said the court’s response is unlike anything that has been seen by the SC in the past and that it had seemingly taken over the Election Commission of Pakistan’s powers regarding lawmakers’ eligibility for holding office.
“If the Zia-era articles used by the court to dismiss lawmakers were to be applied on its own judges, it would leave several court benches empty,” Jahangir said.
The court disqualified 11 members of parliament and provincial assemblies, but spared Interior Minister Rehman Malik, who was sentenced for submitting a false declaration was a court observation that he could not be considered righteous.
Answering a question on the judgment of a person’s righteousness, the former SCBA president said that no limits or judging criteria could be put in place for such an assessment.
“Politicians have been known to change their statements around and their actions are different from the claims they make on television,” she said.
Meanwhile, legal expert advocate Salman Akram Raja said that the SC decision could set a trend in dismissing lawmakers.
Asma Bibi is very supportive to Law Makers even with fake degrees Respected Asma do you think Fake degree holders are Amin and Honest?
Say what is right, just trying to please PPP.
USA
Fake degree holders must also be disqualified. Asma Jehangir and Aitzaz Ahsan have lost several cases in the Supreme Court. They want to settle their own scores. A case of lost pride.
Asma Jahangir does not explain why? The SC ruling is based on the Constitution being violated. What exactly does she want the SC to do? Keep quiet ? Her logic is incomprehensible.
Giving a false affidavit is crime in every country. Ms. Asma should know that.
If you ask me honestly, the duel citizenship is doubtful for the service of the national interests – then the only Pakistani Nationality holders have done more damage to the society and nation.
military and democratic rulers have ruled Pakistan before. Now it is the turn of judiciary. Why not ? What comes around goes around. How do we define a failed state ?
I support the views expressed by Ms.Asma ,and must say, she is the one, who speaks the truth and the rest of us are so called intellectuals……….wali lasi
Hypocrisy, Thy name is Asma Jahangir.
very rightly summarized.. there could nt be a better remark than this
For last how many years they performed the job with the same status? Why was not it checked at the time of appointment. All those who failed to perform their duties should also be punished. Now let me tell you that dual nationality issue is more dangerous if the person is serving in Armed forces. He has sworn in to defend two countries at one time and both want him to defend their constitution, so if Canada want our generals to defend their constitutiion, how can he protect Pakistan. The question rises that why then dual citizeship is allowed by Pakistani Govt. How is this possible that Nawaz Sharief, Altaf Hussain, Imran Khan and many others do not have such kind of arrangnents to make such a Citizenship when required as they all will run away to protect themselves when they feel endangered. SC should aslo start scrutinizing their own king Judges as they also have this kind of amenity to loot and run away!
How can u b sincere and loyal to two different countries at the same time? right judgement
Asma Jehangeer madaam,
You are getting old should retire,
CJP is doing everything for the betterment of Pakistan, Unless and Until these dishonest person are bowled out, Pakistan will remain in this mess.
In my opinion, if you do not agree with any article in the constitution, one should campaign to get such provision amended or dropped. When a person like Asma Jahangir criticizes the court for following an available constitutional path, it is simply mindbogglingly to read such criticism. A person having legal expertise to oppose what is constitutional shows that why we are in the current mess as the elite of this country insists to have double standards. If something is wrong in the constitution, just plead and seek support to get rid of it instead of giving illogical statements that just sound opposition for the sake of opposition only.
She has been consistently opposing any decision made by CJ as if to prove herself a loyal candidate to become caretaker PM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!………But I guess she wouldn’t be able get the slot because she isn’t reliable.
This Lady who is known as Asma Jehangir, once a respected name, for her recent outbursts against every single judgement of the SC has lost all her credibility, at least in my eyes. Perhaps she is looking for a ticket from PPP and hopes to be the next minister of Law? Good luck Asma
its shameful that a person like Asma Jehangir’s stature utters words like this. Then to supplement her arguments she claimed if such a criteria is put on judges then there will be many vacant benches. she forgot that the judges are also part of her legal fraternity. Again she supports the “dual” faces of the local politicians terming it pure “politics”. what a shame Ms Jehangir??
Law is crystal clear. You can’t have dual nationality if you want to become law maker.You can’t sail in two boats at the same time.
ms jahngir is losing her mind or speaking PPP language,when some one lie to the whole nation to commit a fraud how can someone defend him making petty excuses. doesn’t matter what happened in the past that is no excuse to let it go on for ever that any one can lie in their statements to election commission and get away with it saying ohh it happened in past as well.so tomorrow a murderer can claim that he is very good person and contest election.
i think we should start ignoring Ms asma jahgir as a person who lost the plot
Ms Jehangir has time and again proven that she is a PPPJiyala. By some of her statements, I am beginning to suspect that objectivity is not one of her qualities. She criticises the judgements of judges and appears to be judgemental about them. I had always been including her amongst the persons who could be relied upon to speak the truth but alas where else go searching for persons who are courageous and brave, upholding the truth..
The judiciary may have their own black sheep but I fail to see the connection between that and the judgement on dual nationality. My wife swore to uphold the constituion of the country we have migrated to and I intend to
follow suit. Having studied what I am in for , I am convinced that I must not be allowed to hold any public office in Pakistan
Do I have to understand that when a person accepts to be a national of another country he/she does not take the oath of allegiance, what world is Asma Jehangir living in. Does she mean to make us understand that she does not even know the basics of nationality? I commend Supreme Court and the Judges for taking a bold and honest decision.
Completely agree. But then again, Asma Jehangir is never far behind when it comes to protecting the human rights of the elite, especially if they are PPP.
Don’t worry everybody, all this activism is against the PPP government. The self-righteous right cannot win public vote thus they always play these tactics. Nothing new in Pakistani history. Once PPP government is off the scene, all this expeditious activity would be revert back. Pakistan a country made by left but ruled by right. That is the dilemma.
This CJ is completely incompetent
It is a most dangerous precedent being set by CJP, these sorts of judgements will bring the worst out in the later years. If CJP is so sincere then he must address issues like power projects etc, this will benefit the common man but not him and his colleagues and their family members. At times I wonder how CJP son became a billionaire at young age of 34! Oh! sorry this may be Contempt of Court now too!
First of all the CJP should do justice in the case of his son. If this would be the similar case in the west their chief Justice should have resigned from his post.
A very GOOD Precedent for all that nobody is above the law.
Few cases are given a high priority by Supreme Court to keep persons like Shaukat Aziz, Pervaiz Musharraf out of Pakistan while others are left in limbo. What happened to high profile cases like Punjab Bank Scandal Case, the Case of two brother killed by a mob in Sialkot, Case of inapproprian of govt. farmland to high ups to build palacial houses? Supreme Court has failed to provide easy access and fairplay to provide justice to a common man on the street. Prosecution quality is extremely low and police fail to bring credible evidence against a day light murderer and non of such prosecutors are given any punishment who waste tax payers money.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH JUDGEMENT?IT IS IN THE CONSTITUTION.
the fix is in Asma Jahangir wants to be the interIm Prime Minister. she will say WhAT EVER IT TAKES TO PLEASE ZARDARI
GOOD JOKE,YOU BREAK THE CONSTITUTION WHEN YOU NEED IT,AND SAY ITS LAW OF NECESSITY.AND PUNISH OPPONENTS WHEN YOU NEED,AND SAY ITS CONSTITUTION.