NA committee rejects dual nationality bill

ISLAMABAD: National assembly’s standing committee on law and justice rejected the draft of the dual nationality bill.

The bill seeks ban on Pakistanis with dual nationality or foreign holdings to assume public offices.

The standing committee on law and justice, which met at Parliament House in Islamabad with Begum Naseem Chaudhry in chair, turned down the draft bill unanimously.

The bill that was introduced by PML-Q member Raza Hayat Hiraj also seeks to declare dual nationality holders ineligible from becoming members of the parliament.

Begum Naseem said a law of this nature already exists hence a new bill is not required.

Earlier, members of the Election Commission, who met under the Chief Election Commissioner, Justice (retd) Hamid Ali Mirza, observed that the law disqualified such people from being elected, or chosen as, and from being a member of the parliament, if “he ceases to be a citizen of Pakistan or acquires the citizenship of a foreign state”.

There are a number of sitting members of parliament who hold dual nationality, and would thus be liable to lose their seats.