Dual nationality bill presented in Senate
A view of the Senate in Islamabad. — File photo
ISLAMABAD: The 22nd amendment bill was presented in the Senate on Tuesday. The bill recommended abolishing restrictions on dual nationals from contesting the elections, DawnNews reported.
One of the coalition partners in the government, the Awami National Party (ANP), has decided to oppose the bill.
Senator Raza Rabbani and prominent lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan have also reportedly shown reservations on the bill.
During Tuesday’s session, federal law minister Farroq H. Naek presented the 22nd amendment bill in the Senate.
According to the bill, dual national Pakistanis of 16 countries would be allowed to assume public offices.
The law minister said that Pakistan had agreements with 16 countries over dual nationality.
The countries include Syria, Canada, Australia, Jordan, the Netherlands, Germany, United States, France, Britain and Iceland.
He said that Article 63(1)(c) of the Constitution was unfair to Pakistanis residing in foreign countries.
Haji Adeel of the ANP questioned: “Why the 22nd amendment is being tabled before the 21st?” He said that his party would oppose these changes to the Constitution.
Naek said that the 21st amendment bill had been presented in the National assembly and that it was related to increment in the judges’ pensions.
The bill has been submitted before the pertinent standing committee, the law minister said.
“The floor will open for debate,” Naek said, adding that “if anyone has reservations over it, they can suggest amendments in the bill”.
The PPP-led coalition government came up with the proposed bill in order to make lawmakers having dual nationality retain their parliament memberships as well as remain eligible to contest in the general elections as the Supreme Court disqualified some legislators including former minister Rehman Malik.
WE do not need an EAST INDIA COMPANY again in this region, kill this bill of dual nationality
Those pakistani who have money and power are scared of the dual nationality holders. They see them challenge to their dominance and Biraderi based politics.
I hope most of you already know that, when any foreign citizen in USA, UK, Canada …… apply for citizenship that person needs to take an oath that he/she will b loyal to that country and he/she will fight for the interest of the country while getting the citizenship , so how could b person b loyal with pakistan after taking such oath….. think about it…
I hope most of you already know that, when any foreign citizen in USA, UK, Canada …… apply for citizenship that person needs to take an oath that he/she will b loyal to that country and he/she will fight for the interest of the country while getting the citizenship , so how could b person b loyal with pakistan after taking such oath….. think about it…
Dual nationality bill !!!!!!! Are we not bent upon creating issues afresh when we already have plenty around awaiting resolution. The number of Pakistanis holding duel nationality is small. There are no reliable figures available but I suspect it is no more than 500,000. In the UK over 95% persons of Pakistani origin (from appx.1 M) holding duel nationality are from AK. In the Europe their number is no more than 50,000. Out of these the 2nd and 3rd generation has no wish to come to Pakistan permanently given its geo, socio and political situation lased with religious strife. Further 99.9% Pakistanis working in the Middle East hold PK nationality. If at all this issue is so burning and important needing immediate attention then why not to establish a commission with properly drawn out terms of reference and asking for its recommendations for consideration in a more rational manner. But then it is a sensible approach and we as Pakistanis are not accustomed to it. For there is no sanity left . Rememer any law made to protect the interets of a minority is a bad law
Humayun Akhtar London