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Published 05 Jun, 2012 12:30pm

Malik steps down from interior ministry after SC orders

KARACHI: Following the Supreme Court’s orders, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik has stepped down from his office. He said that he does not want any conflict with the courts.

Speaking with DawnNews, Malik said that he has taken off Pakistan flag from his house and his car.

He said that he has not been informed about him being appointed as the interior ministry adviser.

Earlier, the documents from the UK Border Agency (UKBA) showed that Interior Minister Rehman Malik had renounced his British citizenship.

According to documents received by DawnNews, the UKBA in a letter issued on May 29 informed the minister that his request to renounce his British citizenship had been granted.

The letter said that the British High Commission had also given its opinion on the matter and that Malik was no longer a British national.

Malik's Senate membership had been suspended on Monday by the Supreme Court for holding dual nationality.

The court had issued the order after Advocate Azhar Chaudhry, representing Malik, had shown reluctance to submit a declaration by the UKBA to establish that his client had surrendered the British nationality.

The court had also noted that the process of renouncing British citizenship had been started by the minister on May 29 much after the present proceedings and that he was a foreign national when he submitted his nomination papers to become PPP senator.

Therefore, the order said, Malik was not qualified to contest the Senate elections under Article 63(1 c) of the Constitution which disqualified a person as member of the parliament who ceases to be a citizen of Pakistan or acquires the citizenship of another country.

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