NA-241 winner Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig dismisses PTI’s claim about his dual nationality

KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig on Monday dismissed media reports about his dual nationality saying that he had renounced his Canadian citizenship long before elections.

Baig termed the claim of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) affiliated independent candidate of NA-241, Khurram Sher Zaman, about his dual nationality as misleading.

In a tweet, Zaman said Baig was allowed by the Election Appellate Tribunal to run as a candidate in NA-241 constituency despite being a dual citizen of Canada and Pakistan.

“But the time is now to provide documentary proof of renunciation of Canadian citizenship or be disqualified under the constitution’s Article 63(1),” he added.

The PPP leader, who won the election on the NA-241 seat as an opponent of Zaman, said the documents about his renunciation of Canadian citizenship along with an affidavit were submitted to the Election Appellate Tribunal of the Sindh High Court (SHC). Based on his submission of those documents he was allowed to contest elections, he added.

NA-241 winner Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig dismisses PTIs claim about his dual nationality

Whereas, the PTI Karachi leader claimed that Baig did not provide documents regarding his renunciation of the foreign nationality, which he claimed to have renounced in June 2023. He said he was going to lodge a case against the PPP leader for contesting elections as a dual national, an act forbidden by the Pakistani law.