Earlier, the Supreme Court suspended the membership of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA Muhammad Jamil Malik for holding dual nationality.
A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, was hearing cases pertaining to dual nationalities of assembly members.
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Read the constitution which says that no legislator can hold dual nationality. Please rise above personal vested interests and be a rational person. Will you allow a PM, President, Chief of Army staff, a Governor(Ishratul Ibad who took unemployment allowance from UK),and so on to hold duel nationality. Our problem is that we are ruled from aliens who have no love for this country. If they love Pakistan they will live here and die here. Receiving money should not be criteria. If the political parties favour this bill allowing dual nationality to legislators then we need to redefine SOVEREIGNTY. The house will then comprise of foeign agents with amenity. Raymond Davis, Osama bin Laden, Aimal kansi, and similar name will find their way in our parliament openly. Quaid e Azam did you you think this way.
@Visibly Invisible: I agree, it was a generalisation on my part. Just as you argued the parliament should be allowed to mature, so should the civlian institutions which act as a counter balance and are centres of power in their own right (and rightly so). Accountability in a working democracy is more than just 'not electing' the same government in the next elections as you well know.
Yes the parliament is elected by the people, but they cannot hide behind this garb and do as they will. The supreme court has every right to inspect the conduct of the parliamentarians. Not electing the same people in the next elections is not accountability. The dual nationality law may not be perfect, but it is a step in the right direction.
Someone@ *Poor Nadia Gabol…She had only recently stepped in politics and now has to face this…Not Fair…why can’t dual nationals participate in pakistani politics? I mean what is the logic? strong text
It is absolutely fair. Have you read the US oath of allegience, a prerequisite for US citizenship, it leaves no space or doubt for loyalties to be divided in matter of the state. I presume the Canadian oath for citizens would be equally binding. Being bound by thes commitments and laws I do not believe one can honestly put Pakistan's interest at the forefront without endangering their credibility as a citizen of any of these adopted countries.
We have before us examples of individuals who have prefered to retain their recently acquired citizenship in preference to the assembly seat outright commitment to Pakistan. They all make a beeline to the international departure lounges of airports as soon as they relinquish their office.
If you prefer such an arrangement you're welcome to support them and be counted among the many millions whom these dual nationals consider their birthright to rule.
@Hairaan: It is just assumption that duel nationality holder MNAs and MPAs do not send foreign exchange to Pakistan rather take away this 'precious' money to their adopted home, may be looted money goes to foreign banks and that is not legit. It is based on assumption the solution is not to elect them instead of testing their patriotism. Some of them are doing good job of lobbying for free despite a very bad impression. BTW I do not belong to any political party or have any sympathy with them except loving my Pakistan.
In my opinion, this should be common sense. Let's not compare politicians with lawyers, doctors, or any other profession. Politicians are elected to serve their nation..their loyalty should only be to that nation. Why do they need nationality to any other country?! If a poor man, who you are governing, doesn't have that choice to run to another country when they please..why does the government.
@Hairaan: You are absolutely right to say that recipients should not accept foreign money but that can be done by the Government (or by a bullying SC or army). Instead of begging foreign exchange we must stand on our feet ourselves and get secular education while not electing people who do not deserve to handle policies. But I do not agree about your Edhi statement, Pakistani origin foreigners heartily open their valets for donations and most of the foreign aid goes to GOP.
@AnisAqeel: And BTW these MNAs and MPAs which are being banned are not sending any forex to Pakistan rather it is the other way round. They are filling their foreign account (not to mention in Swiss banks) with the looted Pakistani public money. Do not throw emotional statements. Typical of MQM.
@AnisAqeel: Ask the families of these dual nationals not to accept the foreign exchange. They are not sending foreign exchange to GOP or Edhi. This is a false propaganda.
The PCO SC judges have already exempted themselves from this law. It is only elected and popular politicians that are the target of this campaign four years after the elections. It is just like the big fiasco about holding a degree or not, what happened to that when the objective to malign, delegitimize and marginalize the elected leaders was achieved? The fact is no brotherly Muslim country gives equal rights and privileges to Pakistanis there. It is the much hated West which gives us more rights than we have in Pakistan. However, Pakistan only needs our foreign exchange and expects free lobbying for them. In exchange they again let us bring foreign exchange and leave it here. They only count us citizens by birth in these two main things. However, when it comes to becoming equal citizens they have a problem. Actually the deep state and mullah do not want the dual nationality Pakistani to come over with the new and open ideas and democracy to challenge their hold. This is a wakeup call for people with dual citizenship. They have to be honest to their new country and serve their fellow citizens. Charity starts at home and here in West there are lots of needy people. It is particularly an eye-opener for the kids who are born in the West and want to serve their parent's country. Remember you are not Pakistani and you have to volunteer for your own country. You are a suspect in Pakistan. I am sorry to say but it is the attitude of the common Pakistanis who are hostile to the dual nationality Pakistanis. .
We should not accept the foreign exchange also that these duel nationality holders send. That will be a real 'ghairat'.
@Visibly Invisible - "French-Canadian" does not mean dual nationality; it means Canadian of French descent. Specifically, it distinguishes the residents of the province of Quebec who speak french vs the rest of Canada which is english speaking.
@someone - what is the logic of allowing dual nationalities for lawmakers? It's this: when you take on the nationality of any country, you pledge to put that country's best interests first. If a cabinet member has American and Pakistani nationality, when faced with a vote for a policy that will hurt one party and help the other....which loyalty wins out? Is it in Pakistan's best interest to have people who's loyalty is questionable decide on what's best for the people of Pakistan? If it is OK for government ministers at the highest level to have dual nationality, then what about individuals in the military? What about the individuals in the ISI?
Also, when you become a citizen of another country, under what law are you held accountable? Foreign nationals can own property in the US. People who seek out dual nationality are either people with something to hide, who think they might have to flee the country at a moment's notice or people who don't believe in the future of Pakistan.
Poor Nadia Gabol...She had only recently stepped in politics and now has to face this...Not Fair...why can't dual nationals participate in pakistani politics? I mean what is the logic?
@Kami: With this speed, I don't think anyone needs to ban remittances, the folks living abroad themselves might feel so infuriated that they decide not to be interested in anything Pakistan anymore. This is how you convert your friends into starngers, why are we so naive, nay stupid in our attitides.
@Usman: Ireland does.... I am sure they are much more mature than us.
@Usman: Please get your facts straight before making sweeping generalizations. I know for a fact that at least Canada (a developed nation by any standard) allows dual nationality holder to run for office just to enlighten you there are quite a few Pakistani-Canadian that hold offices at both provincial and federal governments even the leader of official opposition Thomas Mulcair is a French-Canadian. Moreover, even if the person is not a dual national (s)he can still have multiple entry visas which will allow them to travel anywhere. Lets not forget Sharif family and Musharaf are not dual nationals yet they were/are allowed to live in Saudia Arabia and UK respectively.
So again the issue is not dual nationality its the choice that we in general and politicians in particular make to be corrupt. Lets admit, corruption is a widespread problem in Pakistani which include lying about petty things, being unaccountable of our responsibilities, and the list goes on.
Let us all get off the emotional bandwagon that we are so used to and treat the root cause of our sorry state rather than treating symptoms and blaming someone else of our problems.
Despite being corrupt it is still a democratic Parliament, amending and proposing new laws is their job. So if we are not happy with their job lets not elect them next year. Supreme court and military does not represent people and they are answerable to the parliament so lets maintain the staus quo.
P.S. I am sick of this government and its policies as much as the next guy, but trying to let the sanity prevail.
Most of the commentators above their first priority in life would be to get US,UK nationality, we are the best judge ourselves
If this is a good and positive step then judges should also ban on foreign remittances why someone should send money from aboard if he cant participate in countries political activities. Judges should not forget that whenever country faces hard times who comes for the support? Overseas Pakistani's
@True Muslim Paki:
I guess it has nothing to do with one's profession whether you are a lawyer, Judge or Doctor. But let's face it: Being Politician, How can you serve your region when you don't like to live in your country or be here when people need you. How can a politician claim his patriotism while keep a safe house for him in abroad if something goes "Bad". These kind regulation should stay active in favor of people of Pakistan. Its better this way when you can catch a politician for accountability.
What about Judges with Dual Nationality? Will they also resign? Cant they be manipulated by other country of citizenship to favour them in litigation's?
MQM keeps saying they "own" karachi, so pakhtun have no right to exist in karachi, as they send the hard earned money back to their home villages and when they die they take their bodies to be buried in pakhtunkhwa... i donot understand how can dual national like Altaf hussain "own" karachi?
how many more are they? Shame they didnt resigned themselves.
now supreme court will not be allowed to visit karachi
so what our honourable parlimentarians have passed the bill of dual nationality. What the speedy action for personal interest.
This is great!! But the corrupt govt. is coming up with a new bill to protect dual national, and im sure Altaf Hussain will be the most happiest person on this planet with that.
This is a great step. It's not about 'intentions' as a lot of media commentators are trying to portray it but about 'being open to exploitation'. Dual nationality holders will always be open to exploitation by the foreign country.
No other developed nation allows dual nationality. Only in Pakistan, where the elite has vested interests abroad do they fight tooth and nail for it.