Parliamentarians with dual nationality
Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012 4:30:11 by Faisal Farooq
With all to and fro about parliamentarians holding dual nationalities, it is best time for parliament to introduce concrete legislation on the matter.
In what appeared to be a right step, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has started asking by-polls contesters to declare about their dual-citizenship.
Although many countries do not have such restrictions, the scenario in this country is completely different.
Among many logical points one is that Pakistani voters believe that their elected representatives having foreign nationalities are less honest and committed with the country.
In their view, the imported candidates have only limited stake in future of the country. Apparently they are not very wrong in their fears.
Many names, who even parachuted in to serve under certain governments, went back to their other country of citizenship after their terms completed.
According to the past experiences, these continent laws encourage a lack of commitment and other corruptions among those in power.
Those, who want to contest elections in this country, should renounce foreign citizenships. The present state of affairs also speaks in favor of such a restraint.
It is also going through a mainly fragile period on the foreign policy and security fronts, many lawmakers have access to the confidential information.
Similar is the case with other people who have access to sensitive information including senior bureaucrats, judges and security personnel. There is a need to look into framing rules about dual nationalities in other influential position as well.
Parliamentarians having dual citizenships claim that people living abroad still have stakes in the country and they send home remittances.
But as far as their right in politics at home is concerned, it can be exercised through giving them the right and facility to vote in the country’s elections. However, those require great power who come into power and run the country.
Some political forces announced to resist such a change to uphold certain parliamentarians qualified but they are required to take broader view of what the country needs.
At this point, anyone having desire to rule the country should be willing to renounce any other citizenship they might have to prove their commitment with the country.
Tags: Dual Citizenship, dual-nationality, ECP, Election Commission of Pakistan, PakistanShort URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=27992
Posted by Faisal Farooq
on Jul 3 2012. Filed under Opinion, Pakistan, Society.
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Why is the resorting to suspension instead of referring to EC for appropriate action?
The Court of apex resorted to suspension of the membership of the parlimentarians having dual nationality with a view to provide them a fair oppertunity to either prove that before contesting the eleciton they had abandoned the foregin nationality or withdrew the oath of the new country to be as faithful as dog to the new country and in case any of the parlimentarian proves at some later stage that he abandoned the foregin nationality and got restored the nationality of the country of origin i.e. Pakistan his membership in the parliment may not be disturbed. In case such like deliquent parliamentarians are not able to prove the above, their cases of disqualificaiton would be sent to EC. In our set up justice should not only be done but it should manfiestly and clearly appear to have been done.
KARAMAT HUSSAIN JANJUA ADVOCATE CELL # 03125111074