Khadijah to leave US nationality to enter parliament

LAHORE: Fashion designer and PTI activist Khadijah Shah, who has spent months in imprisonment after May 9 incidents, is likely to relinquish her US nationality to become a parliament member in Pakistan.

Khadijah is the daughter of former Finance minister Salman Shah and was amongst the PTI workers arrested after an attack on the Core Commander’s House in Lahore on May 9. She wants to take the oath in the National Assembly for which she will have to relinquish her US nationality as a dual national cannot become a parliament member. In a tweet, she has nominated her family friend Mehrunnisa Sajjad to ‘represent’ her in the NA till her issue of nationality is decided. However, no party member can nominate any member for the reserved seat on his or her behalf, and on the promise of getting this seat after the resignation of that nominated member, says a senior political figure and a former parliamentarian as well as a legal expert.

Moreover, according to sources, two noted PTI women Dr Yasmin Rashid and Rehana Dar have found a place on the PTI priority list for the reserved seats of the National Assembly. The sources say the names of the both women who contested the poll against PMLN President and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and the sitting Federal Minister Khawaja Asif from Lahore and Sialkot respectively have been given to the Election Commission of Pakistan. The PTI submitted the names of its women members for reserve seats but kept their names secret. According to the sources, the names of 24 women have been given to the ECP that include Dr Yasmin Rashid, Rehana Dar and Farah Agha. Dr Yasmin contested the poll from NA 130 against Nawaz Sharif while in captivity and the PTI claims that she defeated Nawaz but results were changed. Similarly, Rehana Dar, mother of PTI stalwarts from Sialkot Umar Dar and Usman Dar, fought Khawaja Asif and amid the Form 47 controversy, Asif was declared winner. However, the PTI high command has approved the names of these two women leaders and wants them in the National Assembly.

Dr Yasmin’s name is also likely to be approved for the reserved seats for the Punjab Assembly and it would be her discretion to choose between the two Houses. However, Rehana Dar would be brought to the National Assembly, said a senior PTI leader.