July 27, 2002	Saturday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 16,1423

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LAHORE, July 26: The Lahore High Court will hear detailed arguments on July 30 on the loss of Pakistani citizenship rights by Pakistanis who acquire US nationality.

Justice Tassadaq Hussain Jilani asked Advocate Umar Ata Bandial on Friday to assist the court as amicus curiae and help resolve the matter.

The question has been raised by Umar Ahmad Ghumman, who has been told by the EC that he cannot contest the October elections because after becoming a US national, he lost Pakistani citizenship rights.

Another American citizen of Pakistani origin, Gulzar Ahmad Niazi of Kentucky, approached the court with the same grievance, claiming that former caretaker premier Moin Qureshi and the incumbent federal finance minister were allowed dual nationality.