ISLAMABAD: A person who ceases to be the citizen of Pakistan or acquires citizenship of another country should be disqualified from the membership of parliaments and senate, stated the Supreme Court’s detailed order on the dual nationality case, released on Tuesday.
Earlier, through a short order, the apex court had disqualified around a dozen members of the National Assembly, Senate and provincial assemblies for holding dual nationality.
Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, in his response, said that constitutional clauses can only be reinterpreted when their meanings are unclear, absurd or patently unjust. He was responding to a suggestion by Senator Wasim Sajjad - counsel representing Farahnaz Ispahani.
“Since there are no such compelling circumstances in the present case, the plain meaning must prevail. That being so, acquiring foreign citizenship is itself sufficient to earn the disqualification,” he remarked.
In his concurring note, Justice Jawwad S Khwaja stated that the apex court is grateful to its expatriates and clarified that all such citizens are entitled to their constitutional rights which the court would strive to protect.
“The present case does not affect their right to hold dual citizenship. All that has been declared in the present judgment is that dual citizens cannot hold the highest elected offices,” he added.
Read the detailed court order on the dual nationality case here.
COMMENTS (14)
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Then what shall be the future of Rehman Malik because he is still working as a federal interior minister and why isn't he removed from his office and stopped till now from working by the ECP or government or Supreme Court?????
Detailed verdict: Dual nationals can't be lawmakers, bur judge only
Parliamentarians can not hold dual nationality but judges can? In fact Pakistan may be better off if we had foreign judges instead of PCO judges. Laws should be uniform or equal for all, why different treatment of Judges? This happens only under Iftikhar Chaudhari.
I'm surprised why this stuff is even being debated. The US / India / Israel etc disqualifies dual nationals from national leadership on the basis that tehse ppl can transfer national secrets and change national laws to benefit their other country -
Why are our corrupt politicians insisting on being given the power to be double agents?
Next time the SC will ban Pakistanis with dual nationalities to visit Pakistan just because it thinks they are not loyal to Pakistan and are traitors. Most of expat Pakistanis I have seen throughout my life are more conscious to the country's progress, more patriot than any good Pakistani having only one citizenship. This is nothing but racism! [Don't judge me, I have never been to a foreign country]
I think other foreign governments should follow the SC path and disqualify dual nationals from the membership of their parliaments and senate.
people who took oath undue PCO subverted constitution .They wer not dual citizenship holders people of fame and riches can travel to any country weather they have nationality or not The decision is illogical and only interfaring in political process.The law makers should amend the constitution immediately to bring it in line with civilised world
Great. Now how about Dual National GOVERNMENT OFFICERS?
what about convicted and criminals if their are pakistanis? We see president even convicted a pakistani national is holding top position. Is this not against constitution?
at last beloved government did something in favor of homeland
Good news for Pakistan and Pakistanis.
Now we would be having full Pakistani legislators instead of half Pakistani legislators.
I congratulate the Supreme Court of Pakistan on giving a detailed verdict which will show us the path of success to take Pakistan in to 21 century, according to the will and desire of the Father of the Nation, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
historical decision - well done thankyou
Very well articulated decision. of the Hon Supreme Court