ECP reserves verdict in Faisal Vawda’s disqualification case

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has reserved its verdict on a disqualification petition filed against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Faisal Vawda.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja heard the petition filed against Vawda in Islamabad pertaining to his dual citizenship. Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) Qadir Khan Mandokhel and Faisal Vawda appeared before an ECP bench.

CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja asked Mandokhel whether he wanted to present more documents or give additional arguments.

Mandokhel said today is the 30th hearing of the case but he could not get the answers to his questions. The PPP leader said, “ECP has been issuing warnings for the last one-and-a-half years.”

On this, Raja said that the ECP will decide the case whether it gets the answers or not.

Mandokhel was of the view that Faisal Vawda had held United States (US) nationality at the time of filing his election nomination papers. He said that the concerned RO was not punished as he had rejected his papers instead of disqualifying Vawda.

The PPP leader said that Vawda had falsely declared in an oath to the ECP that he did not hold any foreign nationality. The PTI leader had concealed his dual nationality during the scrutiny of his nomination papers, said Mandokhel.

Vawda’s counsel rejected the allegations, saying that his client had never applied for another country’s nationality. He said Vawda was born in the US and that his client had cancelled his American passport.

As per NADRA’s record, Vawda’s US citizenship had been seized on May 29, 2018, said his counsel.

The chief election commissioner inquired whether NADRA could issue a certificate that says an individual is a Pakistani citizen and not that of any other country.

“How can NADRA know this? We will look into this matter,” said the chief election commissioner.

After hearing the arguments of both sides, the ECP reserved its verdict in Vawda’s disqualification case.

The ECP had adjourned the hearing till December 23 while directing Vawda to submit his arguments by this date.