IHC suspends Nadra order against Hamdullah's citizenship.

Byline: Malik Asad

ISLAMABAD -- Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah on Tuesday suspended the National Database and Registration Authority's (Nadra) notification of revoking the citizenship of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Hafiz Hamdullah.

On October 11, he lost his citizenship when Nadra declared him an 'alien'. Subsequently, the Pakistan Electronic Media RegulaAtory Authority (Pemra) banned his appearance on television channels.

As per the Pemra directive of Oct 26, Nadra had in a letter dated Oct 11 conveyed that 'Hafiz HamdAullah Saboor is 'confirmed Alien' as he is not a citizen of Pakistan.'

It further said Nadra had 'cancelled and digitally impounded' the CNIC [comAputerised national identity card] issued to Hamdullah.

'Since it is established that the said person is an 'alien', therefore, all the TV channels (News and Current Affairs) are directed to refrain from inviting and projecting Mr Hafiz Hamdullah Saboor in their programmes/talk shows, news etc.,' the authority said in its letter.

Hafiz Hamdullah, who was a senator from Balochistan between March 2012 and March 2018, frequently makes appearances in evening talk shows on different news channels.

The directive banning his TV appearances came at a time when JUI-F's Azadi March was about to start.

Advocate Kamran Murtaza, who filed a petition on behalf of Hamdullah, told the court that the petitioner was born in the province of Balochistan and that his father, children and other family members also hold CNICs. One of Hamdullah's children is serving in the armed forces as a commissioned officer.

According to the petition, Hamdullah has also remained member of the Balochistan Assembly and 'Nadra is not vested with jurisdiction to adjudicate upon the citizenship of citizen which otherwise has to be dealt with the Pakistan Citizenship Act, 1951'.

It shows that Nadra's order was issued 'without any lawful authority', the petition said.

During Tuesday's...

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