Dual nationality bill: Senate to open debate on Monday
Proposed amendment would allow lawmakers to hold dual nationalities of 16 countries.
ISLAMABAD:
Days after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) sought fresh declarations from lawmakers that they do not hold dual nationality, a Senate committee has decided to deliberate upon the 22nd Amendment Bill, also known as the dual nationality bill, this Monday (October 15).
Headed by Senator Muhammad Kazim Khan from the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice will discuss the bill, introduced in Upper House of parliament on
July 10.
On October 9, the ECP had warned all lawmakers to submit their declarations of not holding dual nationality within 30 days otherwise they would be assumed to be in possession of citizenship of another country.
Following the decision, the commission has sent letters to all 1,174 members of the Senate, and the national and provincial assemblies.
Under the Constitution, a person is not eligible to become a member of parliament or a provincial assembly if they possess any foreign nationality.
The constitutional provision was not adhered to until recently, when the Supreme Court on September 20 disqualified 11 lawmakers from different political parties, judged to be dual nationals.
The 22nd Amendment Bill had suggested an amendment in Article 63 of the Constitution and had sought substitution of paragraph (c) in clause (1) that reads, “he ceases to be a citizen of Pakistan, or has acquired citizenship of a foreign state expect a State with which the federal government has a dual nationality arrangement under the law, before or after the commencement of the Constitution (Twenty-Second Amendment) Act, 2012.”
The proposed amendment would allow parliamentarians to hold dual nationalities of 16 countries with which Pakistan has an agreement.
The statement of objects and reasons of the bill pleads that Pakistan is not the only country which permits the holding of a dual citizenship or nationality in terms of the Pakistan Citizenship Act, 1951 (Act II of 1951). Many countries of the world permit holding of dual nationalities or citizenships.
“Our country’s economy has always been considerably supported by overseas Pakistanis, whose allegiance to Pakistan should not be in doubt. It has been a long-standing demand of the overseas Pakistanis that there should be no impediment in their way to run for elections for parliament,” the bill adds.
However, the amendment is likely to face stiff resistance from the opposition and the allied partners of the government alike as the Awami National Party (ANP) has already decided to oppose the bill.
In addition, PPP’s own leaders, including Senator Raza Rabbani and Aitzaz Ahsan, have also expressed their reservations over the bill.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 14th, 2012.
Days after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) sought fresh declarations from lawmakers that they do not hold dual nationality, a Senate committee has decided to deliberate upon the 22nd Amendment Bill, also known as the dual nationality bill, this Monday (October 15).
Headed by Senator Muhammad Kazim Khan from the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice will discuss the bill, introduced in Upper House of parliament on
July 10.
On October 9, the ECP had warned all lawmakers to submit their declarations of not holding dual nationality within 30 days otherwise they would be assumed to be in possession of citizenship of another country.
Following the decision, the commission has sent letters to all 1,174 members of the Senate, and the national and provincial assemblies.
Under the Constitution, a person is not eligible to become a member of parliament or a provincial assembly if they possess any foreign nationality.
The constitutional provision was not adhered to until recently, when the Supreme Court on September 20 disqualified 11 lawmakers from different political parties, judged to be dual nationals.
The 22nd Amendment Bill had suggested an amendment in Article 63 of the Constitution and had sought substitution of paragraph (c) in clause (1) that reads, “he ceases to be a citizen of Pakistan, or has acquired citizenship of a foreign state expect a State with which the federal government has a dual nationality arrangement under the law, before or after the commencement of the Constitution (Twenty-Second Amendment) Act, 2012.”
The proposed amendment would allow parliamentarians to hold dual nationalities of 16 countries with which Pakistan has an agreement.
The statement of objects and reasons of the bill pleads that Pakistan is not the only country which permits the holding of a dual citizenship or nationality in terms of the Pakistan Citizenship Act, 1951 (Act II of 1951). Many countries of the world permit holding of dual nationalities or citizenships.
“Our country’s economy has always been considerably supported by overseas Pakistanis, whose allegiance to Pakistan should not be in doubt. It has been a long-standing demand of the overseas Pakistanis that there should be no impediment in their way to run for elections for parliament,” the bill adds.
However, the amendment is likely to face stiff resistance from the opposition and the allied partners of the government alike as the Awami National Party (ANP) has already decided to oppose the bill.
In addition, PPP’s own leaders, including Senator Raza Rabbani and Aitzaz Ahsan, have also expressed their reservations over the bill.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 14th, 2012.