“Persons holding dual nationality are not eligible for appointment in the armed forces of Pakistan,” said a written reply tabled by the defence minister in the Senate.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Sughra Imam had asked if dual nationality holders could join the armed forces.
Dual nationals are required to surrender other nationalities on their final selection in the military.
Currently, any person who holds dual nationality cannot contest elections for national or provincial assemblies. There are around 16 countries, including the United States and the UK, with which Pakistan has signed dual nationality agreements.
The government recently tabled a standing committee report, in the Senate, on a draft of the 22 constitutional amendment bill allowing dual nationals to run for elections.
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Who will verify the dual nationality of armedforces and other government employees? Don't expect honesty from PPP & MQM who have their Chairmen based at UK.
If this 'dual nationality' issue is not settled quickly once and for all, Pakistan will become an abysmal mess where administration, finances, policies and their implementation (seldom) is concerned. In other words, it will become 'free for all' if not already. Salams
Neither are diplomats allowed dual nationality .
What about Dual National Government officers? I know a few.
Yes, they cannot join the armed forces, but the PPP wants them to be eligible to become the Supreme Commander of Pakistan armed forces! If PPP and some of its allies had their way, you may one day find a foreigner from one of the 16 countries with whom Pakistan has 'dual national' agreement might be sitting in the PM or President House!
Though the rule is equally applicable to all the three categories (military, civilian bureaucracy and politicians), i am not sure how religiously it is followed by the other two, but here's how we do it:
Spouse can only retain its other nationality if it is vetted by the military. Moreover, military-men can only marry women who have the dual nationality of one of the 16 countries that hold dual-national agreement with Pakistan.
The procedures goes like....the officer has to first submit all the related documentation and get permission from GHQ/MI/PS Directorate. Only after getting approval an officer can marry a dual national of any of the 16 countries mentioned in the news.
Points to be noted:
-Officers are not even allowed Pakistani passports i.e. they cant get a passport unless the have been cleared by MI that too only when they want to proceed on Ex-Pakistan Leave - a procedure that takes approx 2 months and vetting by the Brigade, Division, Corps and General Headquarters, sequentially.
-There are Officers whose spouses are dual national, but then they dont reside abroad. A very few (or may be none) who do reside abroad are supposed to give complete details of residences they hold outside Pakistan.
-Spouse is obvious, even the addresses of siblings and in-laws residing/working abroad are vetted and counter checked by the military.
There are no exceptions whatsoever.
Interesting. In US, if a legal resident olunteers for the army, their papers for green card are given high priority.
So why can't a dual national risk his life trying to defend his country? Absurd policy.
Well... I personally know of a dual national in Air Force, and he might have taken retirement by now. So its ludicrous for the defence minister to get up and make such a sweeping statement.
Stashing of billions of looted dollars in foreign banks is more serious than having dual nationality.
Mr Minister ! Names of Generals who have duals nationality please ?