Hafiz Hamdullah’s citizenship: IHC suspends Nadra notification
Nadra had cancelled Hafiz Hamdullah’s citizenship and labelled him a ‘confirmed alien’
October 29, 2019
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday suspended National Database and Registration Authority's (Nadra) decision to cancel the citizenship of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader and former senator Maulana Hafiz Hamdullah.
According to Geo News, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the petition filed against the cancellation of JUI-F leader's citizenship.
During the hearing, Justice Minallah inquired whether Maulana Hamdullah had kids. “Do the children also have Pakistani National Identity Card (NIC)?” the chief justice asked.
To this, Nadra's counsel replied that Hamdullah was first told through a letter in 2018 about his citizenship issue and a committee was formed. “Hamdullah appeared before the district-level committee where he was asked to present documents, which later turned out to be bogus,” the counsel said.
Read also: NADRA cancels citizenship of JUI-F leader Hafiz Hamdullah
After hearing the arguments, the court suspended Nadra's decision to cancel Hamidullah’s citizenship and sought response from it within two weeks.
The IHC in its order said neither Nadra nor the interior ministry should take any action against Hamdullah.
The court also suspended Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority's (Pemra) notification forbidding TV channels from inviting him.
Last week, Nadra cancelled Hamidullah’s citizenship and labelled the politician an 'alien'. This came to light when Pemra issued a notice to TV channels, forbidding them from inviting the JUI-F leader on talk shows.
Read also: Hafiz Hamdullah appeals to interior ministry to restore his NIC
On October 27, he had appealed to the interior ministry to restore his CNIC.
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.
