Pakistan’s ambassador to Canada is a British national, just like our envoy to Qatar, Morocco and Bahrain
SELANGOR, MALAYSIA: This is refers to earlier reports in this newspaper that Canada has appealed for the release of Dr Asim Hussain, accused of corruption, damaging the credibility of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, irregularities and kickbacks in the import of petroleum products and facilitating criminals and terrorists by providing them medical assistance without informing state authorities. He took oath as senator in violation of the Constitution and Supreme Court rulings, which forbid foreign passport holders to hold elected public office.
The PPP, which made him a senator and advisor on petroleum, is equally responsible for willful violation of Constitution. It is ironic and an insult to our sovereignty and judicial system that foreign states dare to intervene on behalf of these criminals, who have robbed this country of billions and invested them in another nation.
Under Asim’s watch, Pakistan continued to import substandard 89 research octane number (RON) petrol although countries all over the world, such as Malaysia, sell RON 95 and RON 97 high octane fuel. He abused his office by giving permission to scores of controversial applicants for opening medical colleges, bringing into disrepute the credibility of degrees issued by Pakistani medical colleges and compromising the health of millions of citizens. Pakistan’s controversial civil and military governments should be held accountable.
The PML-N government has continued in this highly objectionable practice of appointing foreign passport holders, who revoked all previous loyalties they may have held and pledged total allegiance to their new countries. Pakistan’s ambassador to Canada is a British national, just like our envoy to Qatar, Morocco and Bahrain, all of whom have pledged loyalties to another state.
The PPP government appointed a British national as our ambassador to the UK and another controversial person, Hussain Haqqani, whose wife had an American passport and he himself was keen to acquire the same passport. Haqqani not only chose to stay back but is actively associated with anti-Pakistan and pro-India lobbies working against Pakistan’s national security interests. In Malaysia, for comparison, the law forbids any citizen to hold any foreign nationality.
Ali Malik Tariq
Published in The Express Tribune, November 23rd, 2016.
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