Senate panel pushes dual nationality ban

The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat on Friday called for a blanket bar on all civil servants from holding dual nationality, as it discussed the Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2024, moved by Dr Afnanullah Khan.

The committee met here with its chairman Senator Rana Mahmoodul Hassan in the chair. During the discussion, Dr Afnanullah Khan stated that civil servants take oath of loyalty to the state of Pakistan; therefore it would be impossible for any civil servant to be loyal to two countries.

Senator Saadia Abbasi and other members maintained that the bar on holding dual nationality should apply to all civil servants and there should be no exceptions. If there was an exception then it should be for everyone, they added.

Taking part in the debate, Senator Saadia Abbasi argued that in countries like the UK and the US, citizens could hold dual nationalities. Surprisingly, she added, a dual national could hold any public office in the US, except for the office of president. She urged the government to devise a policy on the issue.

The committee members proposed to seek the opinion of the Prime Minister's Office on the bill. However, Senator Afnanullah Khan suggested that since the bill had already been passed by the National Assembly, there was no need for sending it to the government.

Cabinet Division Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal informed the committee that the matter was discussed in the 'Secretaries Committee' and there was no aversion to the subject of dual nationality. However, he stressed that it was difficult for any individual to be loyal to two countries.