ISLAMABAD: The government on Saturday has decided to defer the proposed dual nationality bill, which would allow people with more than one country’s citizenship to participate in elections, after reservations were shown by a coalition party, DawnNews reported.

The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government came up with the proposed bill in order to make lawmakers, having dual nationality, eligible to participate in upcoming elections as the Supreme Court disqualified few legislators including former Interior Minister Rehman Malik.

In a bid to build consensus among allies on some important issues, including the one in contention, President Asif Ali Zardari chaired a meeting of leaders from coalition parties late on Friday at the Presidency.

Although, it was reported that the allies, including Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Awami National Party (ANP), had vowed smooth passage from the parliament of the four important bills, ANP leader Haji Adeel said today that his party conveyed its reservations on the issue in Friday’s meeting.

Adeel said that dual nationals have no right to hold top government offices.

He said the government would not be able to pass the bill from the parliament without his party’s support as it requires a two-third majority which the PPP does not enjoy at the moment.

The ANP leader said that his party’s stance on the issue is clear and would not be drawn back. However, the ANP will support the PPP government on the contempt of court bill, Adeel added.