Mr Hussain let his Pakistani passport expire more than a decade ago. This presents a clear conflict of interest
DUBAI: Apropos your editorial on Altaf Hussain’s highly objectionable and offensive speech, it is indeed unbecoming of a citizen of Pakistan, heading a political party with a role in legislation, to give such statements. While addressing MQM supporters in Dallas, Texas, Mr Hussain called for an intervention in Pakistan by Nato and India. I ask both Mr Hussain and his supporters holding American, Canadian or British passports, as to whether they will call upon another nation to intervene and address their perceived hardships in the US, the UK or Canada?
The US oath of citizenship elaborates the obligations of a citizen, by pledging to “absolutely and entirely renounce all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom, or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen: that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the USA against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the US when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the USA when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion”.
It is time that the people of Pakistan understood that those who have opted for foreign nationality, even if they retain their Pakistani passports, have already pledged on oath to renounce all allegiances which they previously held. Mr Hussain let his Pakistani passport expire more than a decade ago. This presents a clear conflict of interest and we cannot help but ask whether dual nationals should head political parties, or hold any constitutional public office, or any regulatory agency or financial institutions of Pakistan?
Malik Tariq Ali
Published in The Express Tribune, August 6th, 2015.
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