Pakistan: Firbrand cleric Qadri refuses to give up Canadian nationality

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“I respect the Supreme Court’s decision but if I travel with a Pakistani passport then I will have to wait for months to get any visa.”

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch |
Source/Credit: The Express Tribune
By ET Report | February 7, 2013

ISLAMABAD: Minhajul Quran International (MQI) chief Tahirul Qadri said that he cannot fall prey to emotions and give up his Canadian nationality, reported Express News on Thursday.

“I respect the Supreme Court’s decision but if I travel with a Pakistani passport then I will have to wait for months to get any visa,” Qadri told the media while referring to the apex court’s objection over his dual nationality.

He further said, “Dual nationality doesn’t stop one from casting a vote.” He also complained that the Supreme Court did not allow him to present arguments on his right to file a petition.

He said, “There is a difference between ‘elector and elected’. The constitution allows dual nationals to vote, hence, I can cast my vote. It bans people with dual nationality from contesting elections.”

Later during the day, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif blamed President Asif Ali Zardari of supporting Qadri. He said, “The attorney general’s support for Qadri is a clear indication of Zardari’s support.”

The attorney general had advised the bench to focus on the petition instead of Qadri’s character during the February 13 hearing.

During that hearing, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry dismissed Qadri’s petition stating that he had failed to make a case for exercising discretionary jurisdiction by the court under Article 184(3) of the Constitution.

Qadri later complained that the court did not allow him to speak on his petition and instead continued to grill him on his dual nationality.

Qadri had filed the petition seeking dissolution of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on February 7. He claimed that mandatory hearing was not held before the chief election commissioner and other members of the ECP were appointed.



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