October 27, 2019
ISLAMABAD: PML-N leader Pervaiz Rashid moved a privilege motion in the National Assembly on Sunday over the cancellation of Hafiz Hamdullah’s citizenship.
On Saturday, the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) cancelled Hamdullah’s citizenship. It came to light when PEMRA issued a notice to all news channels not to promote Hamdullah as he was a ‘confirmed alien’ and not a citizen of Pakistan.
Rashid filed a privilege motion which stated that NADRA’s act was an insult to the parliament. He stated that Hamdullah was a former senator and a health minister from Balochistan which in itself was enough proof that he was a citizen of Pakistan.
Rashid stated in the motion that parliamentarians were concerned after the decision taken by NADRA hence it was important to discuss this issue.
According to sources, Rashid called Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani and urged him to call a meeting to discuss the issue as soon as possible.
The Pemra notification referenced a NADRA letter dated October 11 that affirmed that the JUI-F leader was not a citizen of Pakistan.
The notification also stated that NADRA had cancelled the CNIC of the JUI-F leader. This would mean that the former senator is no longer a citizen of Pakistan.
Read more: NADRA cancels Hamdullah's citizenship
Maulana Hamdullah had been elected as an MPA from Balochistan in the 2002 General Elections on a Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal ticket, and served as Provisional Health Minister from 2002 till 2005.
In March 2012 he was elected to the Senate on a general seat as a JUI-F candidate. His tenure ended in March of last year.