Dual Nationality !!!

[canadian]

The newly appointed auditor general of Pakistan is by no means an ordinary person. Not everyone in this country can afford to belong to two countries simultaneously and have multiple passports and identity cards. He is clearly a person adept at keeping his feet in two boats. Credit must also go to the character and calibre of those who must have had to work hard to discover this rare talent.

The AG however represents only the tip of the dual nationality ice-berg in Pakistan. Some of the prominent Pakistanis with dual nationalities, whose names have repeatedly appeared in the press, include the acting governor of the State Bank, the governor of Sindh, the federal home minister, the leader of the MQM and Pakistans ambassador to the US. Dozens of other constitutional appointment holders and hundreds of parliamentarians, politicians and government servants who perform important state functions are alleged to be holding dual nationalities.

What does it mean to be holding a dual nationality in terms of law, ethics, loyalties and interests? Article 63 (1) of the Constitution clearly states that a person shall be disqualified from being elected or chosen as, and from being, a member of the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament), if he ceases to be a citizen of Pakistan, or acquires the citizenship of a foreign state. This clearly means that a person acquiring the citizenship of a foreign state cannot be either elected or chosen or continue to remain as a parliamentarian if he acquires the citizenship of a foreign state. The constitutional requirement is not without a well-considered rationale. The US oath of citizenship requires a citizen to entirely renounce all allegiance and fidelity to any other foreign state, and if required, to bear arms on behalf of the US against a foreign country. The UK requires citizens to swear a personal oath of allegiance to the Queen and her heirs and successors if they wish to become a British citizen.

One can therefore easily conclude that in a case of conflict, many of the Pakistans leading state functionaries may take up arms against Pakistan on behalf of the country to which they swore allegiance. Can a ruling elite that has sworn complete allegiance to a foreign country be loyal to Pakistan? Why was this vital verification missed out by the Election Commission? Why have the people of Pakistan not considered it necessary to protest and get rid of such state functionaries? Why has the Supreme Court not moved to rid Pakistan of a ruling elite that has sworn to bear arms and fight against Pakistan itself if so directed by their other country?(http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=65474&Cat=11)

 

[Islamabadi1]

THat is exactly what I always say. Here we have people who have sworn allegiance to other states and they come here and act as if they act more patriotic than us Pakistani Citizens. A foreign nationality is not just a passport it is an pledge of allegiance to another state.

 

[mjma6]

i also agree on this issue with canadian and islamabadi1.

 

[Saboo]

i also agree on this issue with canadian and islamabadi1.

It makes sense what you are saying but Gilani is on record saying at the time of
auditor general's appointment, that it was not against the constitution. And CJ took his oath?

 

[magic.magic]

I believe it is a good opportunity for most of the Pakistanis to express their displeasure and frustration as they are jealous that they don't have dual nationality. Well many of the same people who live abroad with dual nationality remits billions to the country. Well, in the current circumstances, given an opportunity, substantial number of Pakistanis would leave the country and opt for nationality of western countries. Well few may say that they are very pious and honest and caring (like IK) who wouldn't take the nationality as they have already had full pleasure of having overseas contacts and now enjoying the wealth, fame and properties in Pakistan. Except for few who took ill gotten wealth from Pakistan overseas like zardarees and noons etc. most of the Pakistanis who live abroad and taken dual nationality are hard working, honest, tax paying professionals caring for the country and praying for the country to progress. For the corrupt and ultra rich Pakistanis who live in Pakistan, living abroad is not easy. Here you don;t have the pleasure of not paying taxes, having servants, drivers, large homes, free electricity and every thing as these cannot happen overseas. I believe, they are creating a non-issue.

 

[canadian]

The newly appointed auditor general of Pakistan is by no means an ordinary person. Not everyone in this country can afford to belong to two countries simultaneously and have multiple passports and identity cards. He is clearly a person adept at keeping his feet in two boats. Credit must also go to the character and calibre of those who must have had to work hard to discover this rare talent.

The AG however represents only the tip of the dual nationality ice-berg in Pakistan. Some of the prominent Pakistanis with dual nationalities, whose names have repeatedly appeared in the press, include the acting governor of the State Bank, the governor of Sindh, the federal home minister, the leader of the MQM and Pakistan’s ambassador to the US. Dozens of other constitutional appointment holders and hundreds of parliamentarians, politicians and government servants who perform important state functions are alleged to be holding dual nationalities.

What does it mean to be holding a dual nationality in terms of law, ethics, loyalties and interests? Article 63 (1) of the Constitution clearly states that a person shall be ‘disqualified from being elected or chosen as, and from being, a member of the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament), if he ceases to be a citizen of Pakistan, or acquires the citizenship of a foreign state’. This clearly means that a person acquiring the citizenship of a foreign state cannot be either elected or chosen or continue to remain as a parliamentarian if he acquires the citizenship of a foreign state. The constitutional requirement is not without a well-considered rationale. The US oath of citizenship requires a citizen to entirely renounce all allegiance and fidelity to any other foreign state, and if required, to bear arms on behalf of the US against a foreign country. The UK requires citizens to swear a personal oath of allegiance to the Queen and her ‘heirs and successors’ if they wish to become a British citizen.

One can therefore easily conclude that in a case of conflict, many of the Pakistan’s leading state functionaries may take up arms against Pakistan on behalf of the country to which they swore allegiance. Can a ruling elite that has sworn complete allegiance to a foreign country be loyal to Pakistan? Why was this vital verification missed out by the Election Commission? Why have the people of Pakistan not considered it necessary to protest and get rid of such state functionaries? Why has the Supreme Court not moved to rid Pakistan of a ruling elite that has sworn to bear arms and fight against Pakistan itself if so directed by their ‘other’ country?(http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=65474&Cat=11)

The matter of fact really is that as per law any public servant cannot hold a foreign nationality.A few days back a Pakistani woman approached my wife who works for a Canadian Multinational, through a refrence for a job.She revealed that she recently came from Pakistan on an Immigrant visa and wants to stay here till she obtains Canadian citizenship.She further said that she works for Punjab Police and her last posting was DSP in Gujrat and now she's on long leave.
So the pledge of allegience is really a hypothetical thing.The problem is that all these state functionaries have or are acquiring foreign citizenships against the law.Later on most of them transfer their ill gotten wealth here.