ISLAMABAD: Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday reserved its verdict on petitions seeking PTI Senator Faisal Vawda's disqualification for concealing his dual nationality when filing nomination papers.

A three-member ECP bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, reserved the verdict after completion of arguments on petitions filed by Qadir Khan Mandokhel, Mian Faisal and Mian Asif Mehmood in January 2021. A similar petition was filed by citizen Dost Ali in 2020..

Qadir Khan Mandokhail and Vawda were both present at the hearing.

The complainant in his statement said that Vawda has declared in his oath that he did not hold any foreign nationality and had also concealed his dual nationality during the scrutiny of his nomination papers,

Vawda’s counsel Barrister Moeed stated that his client was born in California, making him an American citizen by birth. However, he informed the court that Vawda had his foreign passport cancelled before submitting his nomination papers.

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.

The ECP dismissed one of the petitions on grounds of non-compliance and reserved its verdict on the other three petitions.