Dual nationality: Deadlock over drug watchdog posts
Govt argues dual nationals should hold positions in regulatory body, opposition rejects proposed amendment.
ISLAMABAD:
The opposition on Monday managed to put off legislative business temporarily when the ruling alliance moved to allow for the removal of bar on dual nationals to head the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan.
The National Assembly was in the middle of finalising the amendment when a lack of quorum was pointed out by PML-N MNA Begum Ishrat Ashraf. Following the deadlock, Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi adjourned the house.
S A Iqbal Qadri of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) had proposed an amendment in clause 14(3) of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan Bill that stated, “No person shall be appointed as CEO or director of the authority unless he is a citizen of Pakistan only”.
Minister for National Regulations and Services Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan approved the proposed amendment while Zahid Hamid of the PML-N opposed it.
While pleading against the amendment, Hamid said there might be conflict of interest if a dual national is appointed as head of the authority since the majority of pharmaceutical companies were multinational.
On the other hand, Federal Minister Awan said, “Any Pakistani who wanted to return and serve the nation should be allowed.”
Question of loyalty
The amendment, however, triggered a debate over the issue of ‘dual nationality’ in the house, with the PML-N insisting for a ban and the ruling PPP and its ally MQM advocating the removal of such a bar.
“If parliamentarians cannot hold dual nationality, then there should also be a ban on bureaucrats, army officials and judges of the superior judiciary,” said Khawaja Muhammad Asif of the PML-N, while quoting examples of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority heads who held multiple nationalities. “Almost every bureaucrat holds citizenship of some other country,” he added.
In order to justify his party’s position on dual nationality, PPP MNA Khursheed Shah said that overseas Pakistanis were sending remittances worth $13 billion and a bar on them to play an administrative role in their homeland would discourage them.
Khawaja Asif termed Shah’s statement a ‘misrepresentation of facts’, saying that the major contribution of up to $13 billion remittances poured in from Saudi Arabia and Gulf states. All those who have citizenship of other countries particularly US, UK, Canada or other European countries, have no stakes in Pakistan, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 16th, 2012.
The opposition on Monday managed to put off legislative business temporarily when the ruling alliance moved to allow for the removal of bar on dual nationals to head the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan.
The National Assembly was in the middle of finalising the amendment when a lack of quorum was pointed out by PML-N MNA Begum Ishrat Ashraf. Following the deadlock, Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi adjourned the house.
S A Iqbal Qadri of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) had proposed an amendment in clause 14(3) of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan Bill that stated, “No person shall be appointed as CEO or director of the authority unless he is a citizen of Pakistan only”.
Minister for National Regulations and Services Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan approved the proposed amendment while Zahid Hamid of the PML-N opposed it.
While pleading against the amendment, Hamid said there might be conflict of interest if a dual national is appointed as head of the authority since the majority of pharmaceutical companies were multinational.
On the other hand, Federal Minister Awan said, “Any Pakistani who wanted to return and serve the nation should be allowed.”
Question of loyalty
The amendment, however, triggered a debate over the issue of ‘dual nationality’ in the house, with the PML-N insisting for a ban and the ruling PPP and its ally MQM advocating the removal of such a bar.
“If parliamentarians cannot hold dual nationality, then there should also be a ban on bureaucrats, army officials and judges of the superior judiciary,” said Khawaja Muhammad Asif of the PML-N, while quoting examples of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority heads who held multiple nationalities. “Almost every bureaucrat holds citizenship of some other country,” he added.
In order to justify his party’s position on dual nationality, PPP MNA Khursheed Shah said that overseas Pakistanis were sending remittances worth $13 billion and a bar on them to play an administrative role in their homeland would discourage them.
Khawaja Asif termed Shah’s statement a ‘misrepresentation of facts’, saying that the major contribution of up to $13 billion remittances poured in from Saudi Arabia and Gulf states. All those who have citizenship of other countries particularly US, UK, Canada or other European countries, have no stakes in Pakistan, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 16th, 2012.