KARACHI, Aug 25: The Sindh High Court on Thursday issued the ministry of interior a notice in a writ petition moved by a Pakistani woman for grant of Pakistani citizenship to her Indian husband.

Ms Najma Khatoon submitted that she married her cousin Hingoro Gul Mohammad, an Indian national, a couple of years ago and they had a baby born in wedlock. Ever since her marriage, the petitioner said, she and her husband had been trying to secure Pakistani citizenship for the latter as permitted by the law.

However, the interior ministry and the immigration authorities have not taken a decision on their application despite lapse of considerable time. The case was still being processed, according to the authorities. She requested the court to direct the authorities to decide her husband’s case in accordance with the law within a reasonable period of time.

A division bench, comprising Justices Ghulam Rabbani and Azizullah M. Memon, put the interior ministry on notice and adjourned further hearing to a date in office. The bench also issued a notice to the National Accountability Bureau for Sept 7 in a bail application moved Shaikh Ejaur Rehman, an accused in the Alliance Motors scam.

The applicant said he was entitled to bail under the statutory provisions as he had been behind bars for over a year and the trial was nowhere near conclusion.