Bill seeks removal of dual nationals from govt service, parliament

[Sa1eem]

Re: Bill seeks removal of dual nationals from govt service, parliament

@Decent_6Chora

What an insane comment. Makes my and blood of 1000s of Pakistanis overboard "impure"

I can understand if the bill bars dual nationals from being President, PM, CM or for that matter Minister to stop imported PMs like Shaukat Aziz and Moin Qureshi but simply banning them from running an election, BS.

Similarly, many of the highly trained, educated and experienced professionals normally have dual citizenship which they might have acquired while working aboard.

You are right that ‘hanibal’ statement regarding ‘not PURE-BLOOD’ for people holding dual nationality is not only wrong but absurd. Anyhow, barring dual nationals from holding public offices (political as well as civil jobs) is not wrong or absurd.

Reason is simple. People in political posts and government jobs are suppose to work for the betterment of country without any conflict of interest. People with dual nationality can have conflict of interest, as in public office they might have to work against interest of country they could be holding nationality. So, either they would be selling (or working against) the interest of Pakistan or country they hold dual nationality with Pakistan. Such situation should not arise for people working for a country as regardless of which country they work against, no country should take risk in this regard, especially country like Pakistan.

For example: It could be in interest of USA that Pakistan should not make nuclear bomb and if they do, USA would like to know where Pakistan stands. On the other hand, interest of Pakistan could be that Pakistan acquires nuclear assets without USA or any third country knowing about it.

Now, suppose ‘Mr A’ has dual nationality and is in crucial political or government post, maybe MNA or member of Senate, where Pakistan nuclear assets are open book for him. He could be contacted by USA and being of dual national, to safeguard his own interest (nationality, loyalty towards acquired nationality, American assets he owns, his future in USA, or whatever) this person ‘Mr A’ could compromise Pakistani interest.

Same can be said of people who hold foreign assets (personally or through wife and children), as to save their foreign assets they might compromise Pakistani interests.

I agree that some (rather most) may not compromise Pakistani interest, but, why Pakistan should take risk with such person?

[Decent_6Chora]

Re: Bill seeks removal of dual nationals from govt service, parliament

^ Saleem. As I said I understand such restriction if it comes to KEY post like President, PM, even CM, or Foreign Secretary or Pakistan's ambassador but flatly denying the run in election is way too over board.

You don't need citizenship of another country to work against your country. Pakistan is perfect example of it. 95% (wild guess) of the time its was "pure blood" that has hurt Pakistan. We want to put in place remedy for rest of the 5%.

For a starter there should be a bill that says that if anyone's living style does not match their tax statement, they should justify it in legal document (not in political talk shows).

[Sa1eem]

Re: Bill seeks removal of dual nationals from govt service, parliament

@Decent_6Chora

^ Saleem. As I said I understand such restriction if it comes to KEY post like President, PM, even CM, or Foreign Secretary or Pakistan's ambassador but flatly denying the run in election is way too over board.

You don't need citizenship of another country to work against your country. Pakistan is perfect example of it. 95% (wild guess) of the time its was "pure blood" that has hurt Pakistan. We want to put in place remedy for rest of the 5%.

For a starter there should be a bill that says that if anyone's living style does not match their tax statement, they should justify it in legal document (not in political talk shows).

Brother, you can disagree if you wish so but most crucial posts in any country are held by people who run for election and win it. They are people who become President, PM, CM, ministers, and are also people who appoint foreign secretary as well as ambassador. These people make laws and have access to all secrets of country. If dual nationals are allowed to be in parliament, than you cannot stop elected members of parliament from holding one office or another, or not having access to information on national interests, just because that person holds dual-nationality. If such restriction is desirable then one should stop such person from holding membership of parliament and that is what bill is about.

Now you are comparing dual-nationals with single-national Pakistanis who harm the country, but that is ridiculous comparison. A National that harms country he hold nationality is traitor but how can you call someone traitor who holds dual nationality and compromises interest of one country whose nationality he/she holds to benefit other country whose nationality he/she holds?

On the other hand, a traitor has no country to run to, but dual-nationals have that luxury, so such person should not be allowed to hold crucial posts (that means, any public office in the country). It is fair too, as person with dual-nationality, if he really wants to serve Pakistan than he can denounce his non-Pakistani nationality, transfer all his wealth to Pakistan, then contest election or work in the country’s civil post. The person has choice, work for Pakistan or save his dual-nationality.