KARACHI, Oct 8: Interior Minister Rehman Malik turned up before a sessions court on Monday and furnished surety in order to authenticate his bail in the dual nationality case.

Mr Malik also received a copy of the complaint filed by the Election Commission from the court, which fixed Nov 1 for indictment in the case.

On a directive of the apex court, the regional election commissioner of Karachi had filed complaints against Abdul Rehman Malik and Farahnaz Ispahani of the Pakistan People’s Party and Nadia Gabol of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement for filing false declarations, along with their nomination papers for elections, to conceal their dual nationality.

On Oct 2, the court summoned the respondents for appearance in court on or before Oct 9 and directed each of them to furnish surety of Rs50,000 in cash and personal bond in the like amount.

The minister appeared before the court along with his lawyer and a guarantor before the district and sessions judge (south) Hasan Feroz. Through the guarantor, he filed surety amount and personal bond in order to validate his bail.

The court also supplied the complaint under Section 265-C (supply of statements and documents to the accused) of the criminal procedure code to Mr Malik and fixed Nov 1 for indictment.

In the light of the Supreme Court verdict handed down on Sept 20, regional election commissioner Tanveer Zaki under authorisation of the director general of the Election Commission of Pakistan filed complaints against the respondents over corrupt practices under Sections 78 and 82 of the Representation of People’s Act 1976 read with Sections 193 (punishment for false evidence), 196 (using evidence knowing to be false), 197 (issuing or signing false certificate), 198 (using as true a certificate known to be false) and 199 (false statement made in declaration which is by law receivable as evidence) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

On Sept 20, the Supreme Court had disqualified 11 members of the parliament and the provincial assemblies, but spared Mr Malik then.

However, the apex court ordered the election commissioner to initiate legal proceedings against him and the disqualified members for filing false declarations and concealing their dual nationality.