Supreme Court resumes hearing Qadri's petition today

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court will resume hearing Tahirul Qadri’s petition regarding the reconstitution of the Election Commission today.

During proceedings yesterday (Tuesday) Tahir ul Qadri said he had filed a quo warranto against the Election Commission.

The three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry had remarked that the petition was filed under article 184-3 and was not quo warranto, adding that quo warranto does not come under their jurisdiction and Qadri would have to go somewhere else to submit the request.

Tahir ul Qadri had also submitted his reply over his legal legitimacy and the right to file a petition while holding dual citizenship to the Supreme Court.

The Chief Justice remarked that Qadri was not an ordinary citizen, as he was Sheikh-ul-Islam and had travelled to 90 countries to give religious lectures with his Canadian passport.

The Chief Justice further said Qadri could not call himself a Pakistani as he had simply entered the country with a Pakistani passport but used his Canadian nationality to travel to other parts of the world, adding that a Pakistani is one who identifies himself as Pakistani in all parts of the world.

Referring to his Canadian citizenship, the Chief Justice also said that Qadri had taken an oath of allegiance as a Canadian and had pledged loyalty to Queen Elizabeth II, adding that Article 5 of Pakistan’s constitution says Pakistanis must be loyal to Pakistan.

The Chief Justice further said Tahir ul Qadri’s loyalty comes into question if he challenges the institutions of the country.
Tahir ul Qadri said he understands that a dual citizen is ineligible to be a member of the parliament, but still possess the right to vote.

The Chief Justice in his reply remarked that Qadri did have the right to vote but was challenging an institution of the country while knowing that he can’t be a member of the parliament.

Meanwhile Justice Gulzar Ahmed questioned Qadri as to when he was returning to Canada, to which Qadri replied that he was not going anywhere and will remain in Pakistan, adding that he has Pakistani support and can give up Canadian citizenship whenever he wants.

Justice Gulzar Ahmed further remarked that a person who had come to Pakistan on a vacation to meet his family could not be allowed to take part in politics that could affect the entire country.

The hearing has been adjourned till Wednesday.