PPP, MQM to enact law protecting dual nationals
According to reports, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and its key coalition partner Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) have agreed, in principle, to enact a new law protecting dual nationals from being disqualified as parliamentarians.
The agreement had reportedly been reached during a telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and MQM chief Altaf Hussain on Sunday.
The telephonic conversation between the prime minister and the MQM chief follows a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and Altaf Hussain in London on June 29th, where the issue also came under discussion.
Both sides agreed that an amendment in electoral laws, enabling dual nationals to take part in elections should be materialised as soon as possible.
Several lawmakers, including former interior minister Rehman Malik and PPP’s Farahnaz Ispahani—wife of former ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani—had earlier been disqualified by the Supreme Court (SC) on the basis of their dual nationalities.
Many political parties remain opposed to the disqualification of parliamentarians on such a basis, but the paucity of any legal safeguards ensures that these concerns remain unaddressed.
“This is our stance and it will not change. We want Pakistanis living abroad and having nationalities of other countries to become eligible for the membership of parliament,” said MQM spokesperson Wasey Jalil while talking to The Express Tribune on Sunday.
“There is a basic contradiction here. When Pakistanis send billions of dollars in remittances, we admire them. But when they demand a right to be legislators, we respond in the negative,” he pointed out.
According to a press release from the MQM on Sunday, Altaf termed talks on the prospective legislation for dual nationals a ‘positive step’.
Meanwhile, in Islamabad, some senior PPP leaders also confirmed that the law ministry was preparing a draft of the proposed bill, aimed at abolishing the electoral rules’ clause, which bars dual nationals from being a member of parliament.
During one of the hearings, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had questioned the sincerity of dual nationals to Pakistan, indicative of the strains that might fracture the already brittle relationship between the legislature and judiciary over the issue in future.
Both the incumbent premier and his predecessor Yousaf Raza Gilani had severely criticised the law, while MQM chief Altaf Hussain cited it as being a violation of the fundamental rights of citizens during a party address in Karachi last week.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 2nd, 2012.
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mirza sb & his likes have once again proved their loyalty towards Pakistan......while ample proof is there like Moin Querishi and Shoukat Aziz who left when issues And other politicians who left and got UK, USA etc; nationalities.....will you stay in Pakistan if war breaks out Mr Mirza. ? Where will yr allegiance be when UK or America wants you to join their war with Pakistan ?
@Saif Hassan: I want too rule pakkistan !! And be a dual national as well!!
Followers of these parties should realise now how sicere their leaders are, They will loot nations money and will flee to other countries
MQM leader has UK nationality so no surprise there. Lots of PPP members have UK/US nationalities. Who are they kidding, they are saving each others interest, no one is loyal to Pakistan, they don't care what is going on, how a common person is struggling to survive. They just want to get rich with our money. I was amazed to hear the new PM of Egypt Mohammed Mursi has refused to take any pay and protocol, he will stay in his own house. While our PM wants a Helipad and a special electricity line while his neighbours are in dark.
@Siraj Ahsan Why? 80% of the people want to leave as per poll. Wouldnt you leave if given the chance? If you cant let them have the right to be in parliment dont come begging this side for support either. 1) Wow, Pakistan has 180 million people. How many were the poll respondant?
2) Pakistan does not need to beg anyone for money. Infact, we have enough resources to become a global player. Infact Pakistan has to simply build itself as a trade route just like in the past and it will reap millions of dollars just on taxes alone. For example, Gwadar port. I don't recall a single common Pakistani begging the west for help. Don't confuse the "rulers" with common citizen.
@Visibly Invisible No one is preventing dual nationality holders from investing in Pakistan and sending remittance. But we DO NOT WANT DUAL NATIONALITY HOLDERS IN GOVERNMENT. Why is that so hard to understand? In the worst case scenario, if Pakistan is attacked, will you stand by PAKISTAN or your new masters?
Dual national politicians in Pakistan have caused nothing but problems cause they are only concerned about building up their personal wealth and power and then run off when any problems arises.
Dual nationals have better exit strategy than the USA Army.
And btw, if any money is good, then we should legalize and export alcohol & drugs. Remember Economists have no moral.
The premise of foreign remittance is flawed because it comes from people who are not only foreign nationals but reside in another country too! Furthermore this law should be ammended to add that one gets to be ub parliament if they are contributing in taxes. Make government decisions if you are contributing to the government too.
@DevilHunterX: You clearly don't know economics, any money that comes into the country helps!!! There is no doubt that the motivation behind the move is not honest and that the priorities are clearly not straight.
But being a dual nationality holder does not necessarily make you less loyal to one country or the other. Dishonesty is a personal choice, I can name enough 'pure bred' Pakistanis who are doing great disservice to the land of pure.
I am a dual nationality holder and I kept Pakistani nationality by choice not because I was born into it.
@Awans: With due respect we have used your arguments against the govt of PPP and ZAB. However, we got Gen Zia and the rest is history. In politics everything is relative. The ruling coalition is secular and progressive compared to MMA govt or other rightwing govts. In an ideal world I would not want to see any of the current leaders but we have to choose among what we have, the bad among worse. Thanks and regards, Mirza
This understanding is biz Altaf sb i&others wud one day rule Pakistan from abroad...
-this had to happen..then why wud you guys criticize Mr Moin Qureishi & Shaukat Aziz...calling them as imported PMs..?
Hypocrites lot......
These dual nationals never sends penny...only expats remits...& the issue is being deliberately confused so that these dual national politicians loot & plunder the country & runaway to their new home when things go bad.....
@DevilHunterX: Why? 80% of the people want to leave as per poll. Wouldnt you leave if given the chance? If you cant let them have the right to be in parliment dont come begging this side for support either.
@Imran:
Can you let me have your sense with points on the issue. The only favour country receives from them is foreign currency. And if statistics are to be collected 90% of foreign inward remittance comes from the Pakistani workers/professionals and not from the so called dual citizenship holders. Before submitting a proposal in the parliament to enact the law they should submit data, identity of these persons and their contribution to the Nation. How many of them are politicians (present or ex). Proposal will fail.
Due to these thieves, gradually it will become that only FOREIGN nationals can contest elections in Pakistan. Pakistani citizens need not apply.
@ Imran: DevilHunterX DOES talk sense. We compare ourselves to other democracies and want comparable level of governance, right? Then tell me, how many of these democratic states allow for dual-nationality holders to run for office? What do you think is the reason behind their decision? Please list as many advantages and disadvantages for such a provision in your next comment. @ DevilHunterX: Nice name man! You an anime fan? @ Mirza: As always, WHAT?
@Mirza: The Joke of the Century that this Government is Secular Progressive gov. The party who excluded one Minority from Muslim ranks and declare them non Muslims and shunned their rights are now known as Seculars?????????. Go and check the definition of Secularism that what is known as a Secular Party and what is meant by Secular!. PPP is responsible for this Segregation in the society when Bhutto started using Islam for his own petty gains and was known as the Khalifa of Muslim nations that time. Also if PPP and MQM are known as Progressive parties then it is better to have a Martial Law in my country
Its unfortunate that having dual nationality is considered to be a stigma, how can we doubt the sincerity of patriotic Pakistani, who have been dispatching massive remittances ( more than 20 billions of dollars per annum) , would be unfair. People living abroad are not less patriotic than those who live in Pakistan. More than 80% Pakistani living and working abroad are literate are more sensible than the masses living in here (70% illiterates).
It is good to note that MQM being a sensible political party, is highlighting the issue, and wants to resolve the matter through legislations instead of street talks
How many of the dual nationals in the Parliament have remitted money to Pakistan from abroad? It is just opposite. Most of them have transferred money outside from Pakistan.
@Hasan: Respect the law that exists already.. Legislators are not allowed to hold dual nationality. Period. No further arguments. That is it.
You have to be MNA to be prime minister and speaker. This means a dual nationality holder can also become PM ans Speaker. Just to save their cronies they putting the country at risk. If the PM and Speaker can be dual nationality holder then why can't chief of Army Staff,and Chief Justice and President and Governors and Chief Ministers and ......... Wonderful argument by MQM, PPP, PTI and PML(N). This shows how serious they are about the sovereignty of the country.
Dual National hummmmmmmm this means a UK Citizen or USA will become our Prime Minister or Foreign Minister and make policies for Pakistan. A good formula indeed!
There will be a day in Pakistan when the country's PM will run the office from London because his life would be in danger in Pakistan and he will be a British as well.
Only a Pakistani should be a law maker, what do you know living in Pakistan. You never want to live here but only want the power to be a law makers and rulers, and that is from your comfortable London apartments.
Shame on the govt,
From the comments above, it is clear that some people are just too stupid to understand how international banking transaction works
Now v import NA's members too???????
Section 9(1) of the act provides that any citizen of India who by naturalisation or registration acquires the citizenship of another country shall cease to be a citizen of India. Notably, the termination provision differs from the renunciation provision because it applies to "any citizen of India"
@Imran: Obviously you would. Slaves have no thought of their own.
Enact a law or change the Constitution?
Quaid E Azam will be tossing and turning in his grave.All decisions of my country are made abroad and by unloyal to the country.
@DevilHunterX: Agree 100%.
Thieves share no honor.
@DevilHunterX: At least you should have talked sense.
I completely support this law change.
Live abroad and rule in Pakistan. A good formula indeed!
Parliament's primary job is to make laws it is not the SC's job to make laws or policy. Kudos to the secular progressive coalition govt.
We want Pakistanis living abroad and having nationalities of other countries to become eligible for the membership of parliament
Sure, give up your other nationality and try for election.
“There is a basic contradiction here. When Pakistanis send billions of dollars in remittances, we admire them. Excuse me? These Pakistanis send money to their FAMILIES not you or me or the Government.
But when they demand a right to be legislators, we respond in the negative,” A man would never marry twice if he was loyal to the first one.
No electricity, doctors on strike, border incursions and massacre of soldiers, massacre of hazara community, 6000+ dead in karachi, instead of going to balochistan or FATA the PM goes to nine zero to pay respect this is what the current government priority is? Talk about getting the priorities wrong. PPP supporters can you please answer what your government is doing?