LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf former MPA Dr Murad Raas has been found holder of dual nationality.

Dr Raas, who had been elected to the provincial house from PP-152 (Lahore-XVI) in the 2013 general election from the PTI platform has again been granted party ticket for the July 25 polls from PP-159 (Lahore-XVI).

According to a report of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), at least 2,123 of the aspirants for various national and provincial assemblies seats have been found holders of dual nationality. Under the law they cannot run for a public office until they rescind their foreign nationality.

The list reveals that Dr Raas holds American nationality. The fact was unearthed through the foreign travel record available with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The PTI leader, however, rejects the [dual nationality] report. He says that he had been a dual national but had abandoned the US nationality before contesting the 2013 elections and had submitted the documents with the ECP. He says that the FIA’s foreign travel record that made the basis of the ECP report pertained to the year 2010 when he had not yet withdrawn his foreign nationality.

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2018