ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday disposed of a reference submitted against 35 legislators of the Punjab Assembly, who were accused of possession dual nationalities, DawnNews reported.

The reference was heard by Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retired) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim.

During the meeting, the petitioner, former ambassador Asif Ezdi was asked to provide evidence to prove that the lawmakers held dual nationalities.

Ezdi replied that he had submitted the reference based on an intelligence report published in media, adding that he had no other evidence to prove that the lawmakers were dual nationals.

Member of ECP Roshan Essani told him that the ECP could not take action based on informal accusations, adding that it was the responsibility of the accuser to provide evidence to prove his allegations.

Thirty-three members of the Punjab Assembly submitted affidavits of holding dual nationality.

Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) Zaeem Qadri said that the PML-N provincial legislators had been falsely implicated in the dual nationality case with the ECP.

He added that a libel notice, amounting to one billion rupees, would be filed against those who were falsely implicating PML-N’s Punjab legislators.

Former MPA Jamil Ashraf submitted a statement saying that he had voluntarily resigned from the Punjab Assembly as he held dual citizenship.

Thirty-three MPAs submitted their statements of not holding dual nationalities, while Dr Tahir Javed did not attend the hearing. Former MPA Jamil Ashraf informed the commission that he had already submitted his resignation for possessing dual citizenship.