Gilani_File_670
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza GIlani. — File photo

ISLAMABAD, May 27: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Sunday that Dr Shakil Afridi, who was sentenced to 33 years in prison for helping the CIA trace Osama bin Laden, should be given the opportunity to defend himself in higher courts, as per the law.

Answering a question during an interview to a private television channel, Mr Gilani said that whatever Dr Afridi did was wrong. However, he should get justice from the “normal courts”.

The prime minister said that in the Constitution there was no bar on dual citizenship and that he was in favour of giving the expatriate Pakistanis the right to vote and become legislators.

Mr Gilani said there should be a proper debate on the issue of dual citizenship and the parliament should decide on the matter. The expatriate Pakistanis should not be deprived of the right to become members of parliament.

He said the Constitution was not made for individuals.—APP

Opinion

Editorial

Sustainable path?
13 Jun, 2026

Sustainable path?

THE FY27 budget is the first clear signal that the government is ready to transition from stabilisation to growth ...
Prioritising education
13 Jun, 2026

Prioritising education

THOUGH the improvement in the country’s literacy rate may be slight, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, it ...
Poverty’s rise
13 Jun, 2026

Poverty’s rise

AS attention turns to the government’s plans for the coming fiscal year, one set of figures deserves particular...
A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...