ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Human Rights on Friday rejected a bill permitting dual national Pakistani citizens to contest elections of the National Assembly, Senate and provincial assemblies.

The committee, which met at the Parliament House with Mahmood Bashir Virk in the chair, discussed the bill that had been moved by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lawmaker Iqbal Qadri.

The bill recommended amending Article 63 of the Constitution, which bars dual nationals from contesting in parliamentary and provincial assembly elections.

However, seven out of eight members of the standing committee rejected the bill.

The law ministry had told the committee in a briefing that a conflict of interest may arise in the case of a person who holds dual nationality.

The meeting was also attended by Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights Senator Pervaiz Rashid and members of the body.

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During the meeting, officials of the law ministry's human rights wing briefed the committee about its working and achievements. The committee however expressed concern over the ministry's performance.

They directed the ministry's officials to inform the committee as to what action was being taken against the violation of fundamental rights in the next meeting.