KARACHI: Three assembly members belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), who had resigned for holding dual nationality status, were made special assistants and advisor to the Chief Minister Sindh, Express News reported on Sunday.
Former MNA Haider Abbas Rizvi and Sindh minister for sports Muhammad Ali Shah were appointed special assistants to the Chief Minister Sindh while Sindh IT minister Raza Haroon was appointed Advisor to the Chief Minister Sindh.
All three have been, however, given powers equal to those of ministers.
Similar action was taken in the case of Interior Minister Rehman Malik when he was declared ineligible by the Supreme Court.
Malik was appointed advisor to the prime minister.
Earlier, six Sindh assembly members sent in their resignations to the Speaker after they failed to file affidavits with the election commission proving they were not dual nationals.
Rizvi was among 16 lawmakers who had failed to submit their affidavits regarding their dual nationality by the deadline given by the election commission.
Chief Minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah exercised his constitutional powers outlined in Article 130 of the Constitution which allows the CM to nominate whomsoever he wishes as a minister.
COMMENTS (37)
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@Qurban Hussain:
Why only Mr R Malik be declared dishonest & not straightforward ? All thesecdual national holders be declared same as per constitution & barred from contesting in future...re-appointing them as advisers etc; is a mockery of democracy & constitution itself....
@FaiselH:
correct....very correct.
WOW HOW PATRIOTIC...THEY WOULD RATHER LEAVE THEIR ASSEMBLY SEATS THAN TO PAR WITH THEIR FOREIGN CITIZENSHIP'S...VERY PATRIOTIC INDEED
I am a Pakistani-American who will always be a supporter and well-wisher of Pakistan and its people but it is ridiculous that a legislator of the country can have dual loyalty. People in the corridors of governmental power (Supreme and High Courts, military leadership, national and provincial legislators, bureaucrats) should all have their allegiance exclusively to Pakistan. If they wish to do better for their families abroad then let them make that decision in the private domain. They should not enjoy the fruits of power in Pakistan while having lifeboats abroad. No country in the world gives its levers of power to foreign or dual citizens.
Well said Adnan Khan!
as fish cant live without water. our politicians cant live without power. Shame!
MQM shouldn't say that they are being singled out in case of criticism since many MNAs and MPAs hailing from PPP and PML-N and possibly few other parties have also faced disqualification due to dual nationalities.Apart from that it all puts claims and slogans of middle class "revolution" and leadership to rest. Power corrupts many human beings.
How come the Chief Minister appoint the Dual Nationals as Special Assistants and Advisor when all of them failed to prove that they are 100% and pure Pakistanis? If this is the case, then the Chief Minister in exercise to his constitutional powers outlined in Article 130 of the Constitution can also appoint any Foreign National and it should be necessary for the Chief Minister to choose people that person who is inducted in the cabinet should be half Pakistani. What is the proof that the half Pakistanis made as Special Assistants and Advisor are wholeheartedly honest with Pakistan and they are not on the payroll of the foreign governments, who have given them citizenship and nationality of their respective countries. I am of the opinion that Parliament should approve unanimously that no person who is holding a dual nationality should be allowed to contest the next general elections under any circumstances and should NOT hold any Public Office whether as Special Assistant or Advisor, if the nation wants to save Pakistan, otherwise, it will be tantamount to further breaking Pakistan.
It is disgrasefull that these people have been appointed special ministers at the discretion of Chief Minister of Sind after being found out that the held dual nationality these people have lied to people of Pakistan about their nationality status which indicates that these people are not trustworthy so this just shows you how corrupt this government alliance is.They look after each others well being at cost of people of Pakistan. I hope people of Pakistan when next election takes place vote for honest people who do not decieve the people of Pakistan, These people talk about how democratic they are but they lied on oath when taking their place in the national assembly.
@Adnan Khan: Excellent point !
It's not that they held dual citizenship. The thing is, they chose to keep it, rather than represent the lofty position of legislator, which the people of Pakistan elected them for, through their vote. . It's not just a personal betrayal, lying under oath on your election application. Committing fraud, etc. These people have also insulted their constituency. Their voters. The people of Pakistan. . Do you understand the enormity of this decision of theirs ?. They CHOSE allegiance to another country, throwing your NA/PA seat back in your face. There isn't a bigger F-U out there.
@Abdul Rehman Khan: "Poor Pakistan …., “razia ghundon mey phans gaee” Hai koi jo bichari razia ko ghundon sey bachaey?
India. But we cannot come to your help unless we are asked by the people of Pakistan. All these dogle log (dual nationals) will run away to their sage havens and leave you to face the inevitable onslaught of Taliban and Al Quaeda. Even your so-called retired General and President has residences in Dubai, England and the United States. What do you expect from such people ?
Pakistan's salvation lies in a Presidential form of Government, where the candidate for the highest office stands for a direct election. This 'Westminster' form of Parliamentary "Democracy", will always be a mockery of the people.
@Asif R: Boy are you clueless or what? If they love Pakistan so much, why they did not give up their other nationality for Pakistan?
All dual nationals have penetrated in the political parties. Since owe allegiance to foreign countries how can they be patriotic to Pakistan. By the way, has any one asked for declaration by Sindh governor Ishratul Ibad? Like his leader Altaf Husain, he too has british nationality. Poor Pakistan ...., "razia ghundon mey phans gaee" Hai koi jo bichari razia ko ghundon sey bachaey?
Shame less people. They give lectures to the whole nation on their patriotism & how much they love their country men? And other politicians are bad, worst but these politicians are as honest as a human can be????????
@Asjad: Try to use common sense. parliamentarians are lawmakers and as such if people will other or dual nationalities are allowed to be in the parliament, they MAY have other country interests put above board ours while making big decisions, just because of this MAY, they are not allowed, as per the constitution to have dual nationalities. Armed services, media, doctors, lawyers, are not lawmakers, hence should be allowed. I am a dual national and hence should not be allowed to contest elections.Hope you get it.
Do they have only green card (permanent residency) or also passport from other country?
Hypocrisy at it's peak.
@khalid Farooq: I am not sure how can you judge any body's sincerity for Pakistan, just because they are dual national...many leave Pakistan for valid reasons (education, job) and may acquire dual nationality, this does not mean their love and sincerity for Pakistan is any more or less than those who are not dual national.
In any decent country political parties would respect the voice and view of the common man on any issue. Putting dual national in government again with different titles is like spitting on the face of a public opinion, leave the courts. One small advise to MQM (whom I have voted once in 1990's). JI was swept out of Karachi & Hyderabad overnight in just one election. Just do not go against general public opinion.Public opinion against MQM is already running very high as they feel that MQM is hands and gloves with the most corrupt and incompetent government in the history of this nation.
@Asjad:
Do not be naive....dual national condition is as per constitution article 63 1 C ( these same politicians / MPs have made constitution & inserted this clause & yet do not follow it ? ) , right or wrong, each politicians have to declare at the time of filing of their nomination papers, are such act of misdeclaration not against any norm of decency & honesty ? first change the relevant article in the constitution making it either relevant or irrelevant to all dual national holders, then you have all rights to criticize...may I ask ? can these 16 lawmakers ( making a mockery of being lawmakers, they should be called lawbreakers ) misdeclare in any form in any country in which they have taken new citizenship ? they think that anything is possible in Pakistan, because since they are the mighty & powerful, they make law, they can break it..it is high time that we respect law & exert pressure for others to do same, otherwise this country is doomed...hence,do not comment just for the sake of commenting..please.
ET pls publish my comment,bcz some people think they know all...
Wasn't this Rizvi fellow always eloquently berating other politicians about patriotism etc. ? Only in Pakistan !
What a shame... leeches like rizvi and raza haroon make long and passionate speeches on tv shows how to reform this country and how much they apparently love it... Shame on you three
@Asjad: Armed forces and Army are not allowed. Politicians are allowed but not members of assembly.
These MQM stalwarts claim to represent the common middle class people what shame.
I am ashamed of being ruled by such liers!
Democracy is the best revenge :)
Double standard...the armed forces,judges,doctors,media person,nuclear scientist and everybody else is allowed to have dual nationality but politicians cant...Double standards.
Do they have nationalities from country we took independence from?
This is not only contempt of the law but contempt for the Constitution as well.
Clapping.......!!!!! These gentlemen come on TV almost every night telling us how sincere they are with our Country.......Clapping!!!!