Dual nationality case: Govt told to make civil servants choose between job and other nationality
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The Supreme Court on Saturday directed the federal and provincial governments to set deadlines for civil servants with dual nationalities to either give up their job or the second nationality as it announced a verdict in a suo motu case concerning the matter.
A two-member bench of the court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, instructed the concerned governments to legislate and take necessary measures on the issue.
Failure to relinquish other nationalities on government employees' part within the stipulated time should result in legal action, the court stated in its order.
The court remarked that government employees who hold foreign nationalities during the course of their employment are a threat to the interests of the state of Pakistan.
Furthermore, the apex court said that in case a non-Pakistani is to be engaged in employment then the concerned cabinet's permission should be secured.
The court directed the federal and provincial governments to compile lists of its employees who hold dual nationalities, and told the parliament to legislate and take necessary measures.
In January, the chief justice, while hearing a separate case, had taken up a suo motu case on senior government officers as well as members of the judiciary holding dual nationality.
In March, a report compiled by the Establishment Division had revealed that a total of 213 government officers serving in various ministries, divisions, provincial departments and autonomous bodies held dual nationality.
Rana Bilal is a Lahore-based reporter for Dawn News (TV) with over nine years of experience covering legal affairs, justice-sector developments, and environmental issues. He can be found on X at @ranabilaldawn.
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Dec 15, 2018 11:24am
Good decision.
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Dec 15, 2018 11:27am
Why should they quit? Under the present socio-economic and security situation, it is everyone’s right to have more than one nationality and jobs. If PM can have Iqama then why can’t others? Let’s focus on main issues.
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Dec 15, 2018 11:28am
Should be enforced in letter and spirit
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Dec 15, 2018 11:30am
How about zulfi bukhari??
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Dec 15, 2018 11:32am
Excellent.. So we hope more jobs in near future.
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Dec 15, 2018 11:39am
Good decision. There should also be a law disqualifying anyone having more than 50% of their assets abroad.
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Dec 15, 2018 11:50am
this is great news! if you are not proud to be a holder of green passport you should have no role to play in this government of this country. however in my opinion this should also apply on their spouses. some people might not have passports but may hold other documents like "green card" or permanent residencies so they may hide behind this loophole. this should also be addressed
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Dec 15, 2018 11:55am
We are fortunate that Pakistan allows dual citizenship. We should not abuse such privileges. Many countries including our neighbor India does not allow its citizens to hold two passports. As a matter of fact if anyone carries another citizenship then in such cases they are also denied inheritance. So respect what we have !
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Dec 15, 2018 11:55am
Nothing wrong with dual nationality. People of commonwealth are allowed dual nationality. Most cases it is convience and nothing to do with security.
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Dec 15, 2018 11:56am
hold the passport, where your loyalties are?
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Dec 15, 2018 11:56am
@Zack, He is advisor to PM ,thats not a position. Why after him alone, look into PPP and Nawaz, Bilawal, Hassan and Hussain sharif.
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Dec 15, 2018 11:57am
Foreign citizenships are being used to launder money out of Pakistan, and to have a escape route handy just in case of crackdown by the government of Pakistan.. that is very unfortunate and discourages those dual citizenship holders who are experts in various fields and want to go back to Pakistan to work for the uplift of the country.
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Dec 15, 2018 11:58am
Most will quit their jobs.
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Dec 15, 2018 12:00pm
What about Zulfi Bukhari? Faisal Vadwa? Sarwar? other key position holders in government?
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Dec 15, 2018 12:04pm
Surely, this is the excellent step ever taken in the history of Pakistan.
This man must be more than a CJ.
Someone like him is needed to make Pakistan progress.
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Dec 15, 2018 12:12pm
Civil servants! What about others in govt. Related department jobs? Like autonomous body employee is not civil servant!
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Dec 15, 2018 12:17pm
What about the confusion regarding the status of CM of Sind, Syed Murad Ali Shah?
The Sind Government and Karachi municipal corporation also have people employed as seasonal consultants holding other citizenship or permanent residential papers which will lead them to citizenship.
It is not a crime to hold dual citizenship and work in the country where good opportunities prevails, but unfortunately for Pakistan, the corrupt civil servants and the corrupt politicians have been using dual citizenship to commit financial crimes and to hide money.
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Dec 15, 2018 12:24pm
Dual nationality is always a security concern. India doesnt give government jobs, to Indian born citizens having dual nationality.
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Dec 15, 2018 12:26pm
Excellent decision.
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Dec 15, 2018 12:28pm
They are PM choices.....
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Dec 15, 2018 12:30pm
No sense ...decide on nationality first should be given or not why give more stress to people....
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Dec 15, 2018 12:37pm
@Zack, He was born in UK mr genius
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Dec 15, 2018 01:16pm
Great decision by SC. Why shouldn’t they be punished for an illegal act
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Dec 15, 2018 01:17pm
@Zack, he is not a career civil/government servant or member of the Parliament. He has been hired for limited time with limited scope.
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Dec 15, 2018 01:19pm
@Basit, wake up please. Other than Zulfi Bukhari none of them hold foreign or dual nationality any more. As for Zulfi Bkhari, he is a mere advisor, not a civil/government servant or member of Parliament.
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Dec 15, 2018 01:27pm
Very good decision cjp zindabad.
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Dec 15, 2018 01:33pm
Nothing wrong dual nationality. Most overseas Pakistanis are dual national and love their homeland. If you are suspecting their loyalty then don't look towards them when collecting funds for water dams or investing in the country to improve falling reserves. Can't have it both ways.
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Dec 15, 2018 01:37pm
Excellent, Three cheers for CJP
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Dec 15, 2018 01:40pm
Totally agree with the Supreme Court of Pakistan. You cannot have your cake and eat it too! You want to occupy a key policy/admin. position in the government of Pakistan? You can easily misuse your influence to ease seeking nationality. How do you mange so many years outside Pakistan in active government service? I know civil servants allowed limitless leaves to serve foreign governments. Dual nationality is a clear conflict of interest. Dual nationals must be removed from the paylist of the government of Pakistan.
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Dec 15, 2018 01:50pm
@Jairaj, india does not permit dual citizenship.
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Dec 15, 2018 01:54pm
What about wives having dual nationalities. Their husbands may have automatic rights to live in their countries. I can think of two politicians whose wives are also US citizen. That's just like having Akama . By the way two are Ch Nisar & Khwaja Asif both of PMLN
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Dec 15, 2018 02:05pm
@waheed zafar, but permanent residency not coming in dual nationality.
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Dec 15, 2018 02:05pm
Kick them out their are large number of jobless educated peoples they will are ready to do the job.
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Dec 15, 2018 02:06pm
@Aamir, Dear they are Just 213 (as reported) the pampered ones ! Social economic ? than the poor rest 200 million population should also have such dual privileges !
Very Right decision.
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Dec 15, 2018 02:17pm
Why we have to give dual national important position in our country. These people have their heart in Pakistan and mind in other countries. It would be slot better if we select some one who is 100 percent Pakistani.
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Dec 15, 2018 02:27pm
Bravo! Of course dual nationals must NEVER get into critical positions.
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Dec 15, 2018 02:28pm
@waheed zafar, in the US green card holders are no longer able to stay overseas and visit for 1-2-3 weeks. Immigration had become strict even before tRump - ‘green card’ is ‘intent to stay permanently’.
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Dec 15, 2018 02:58pm
There is no prospect with dual nationals to take government jobs. Great !!!! With this legislation you are making oversees Pakistanis not welcome in government jobs so these are perceived with the feeling of alienation!!!
How do you explain then to these Pakistanis who runs the economy with their remittance and pay your salary and diesel for you mercedes. With all his good intentions i dont think he is allowed to run government......
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Dec 15, 2018 02:59pm
What a decision. Respectfully stated that dual nations are not a risk at all they are pride of Pakistan.
By the way Pakistani Dual nationals can take any position in UK. Under the law dual nationality is allowed/legal. It’s a disgraceful to bar a Pakistani born & national to take a government position on the basis that he/she also git nationality of another country as well. Honourable Judiciary please do not go to foreign countries for training and send your children to other countries . Our honourable Chief Justice went to uk for the graduation ceremony of his son and fund raising for dam. Ex pats including dual nationals contribute to national exchequer a lot and contribute to the every cause in the national interest. I hope someone will approach the Supreme Court and request to take out words in the decision regarding dual National are threat to national security.
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Dec 15, 2018 03:01pm
Does this include foreign consultants and experts that are required to conduct feasibility studies and provide private and government sectors advice in different fields? And, do we have high calibre people and capabilities to pursue highly complex and sensitive issues? In my opinion, this CJ's decision will slow down our progress in our existing and new ventures.
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Dec 15, 2018 03:11pm
@Aamir, it is part of the constitution in most if not all the developed countries that you cannot have a dual nationality and serve as an MPA on an MNA for that matter.
Therefore, it is a great decision.
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Dec 15, 2018 03:13pm
Excellent decision!
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Dec 15, 2018 03:16pm
What about foreign reserves which comes from overseas, dual national ? If they stop send that foreign reserve how will this country survive ?
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Dec 15, 2018 03:23pm
Let’s start with judiciary first and sack all those with dual nationality.
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Dec 15, 2018 03:24pm
You guys need to let sense prevail and stop discriminating against dual nationality holders. CJP was in UK recently and collected a lot of dam money from many dual citizens so these dual citizens who launder money are very tiny 'tupka' compared to the great majority who have qualified for other nationalities and now send remittances to pakistan. Your processes, governance and bilateral agreements with other countries where dual is allowed should be so that no single or dual citizen is able to launder money internally or externally. As for critical positions, because of their nature they should be awarded based on 100% meritocrisy. Remember if the courts, opposition, media and security agencies do their job then they should provide sufficient checks against those who dare launder regardless of his citizenship status. Trust in your elected leaders who are accountable for the merit and talent they deploy. Selection on Case by case basis please based on merotocrisy alone.
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Dec 15, 2018 03:27pm
How can a person be sincere to his oath of allegiance to two different countries?
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Dec 15, 2018 03:48pm
@Aamir, Why should they quit? Under the present socio-economic and security situation, it is everyone’s right to have more than one nationality and jobs. If PM can have Iqama then why can’t others? Let’s focus on main issues.
You are right. No one is saying that they should not hold dual nationality. They are told that if they want to keep dual nationality (as that is their right) than they should leave public office (government job, as that is not their right).
Pakistani constitution says that people holding public offices (as politician, bureaucrats, govt/civil servants) can ONLY have Pakistani nationality (cannot have nationality of any other country except Paksitan), and having dual nationality means, they hold nationality of other country. So they are breaking Pakistani constitutional law. Until this clause is not changed in Pakistani constitution, anyone holding public office and dual nationality, is doing crime.
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Dec 15, 2018 04:04pm
A step in the right direction. I dare say this decision could even end up curbing corruption because those who do end up being caught doing corruption usually try to run away towards their new home where they live like an ideal citizen. Now they have to either live with the consequences or stay away from governing the masses.
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Dec 15, 2018 04:18pm
Absolutely applaudable decision , to end the "Infiltration".
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Dec 15, 2018 04:43pm
Why this option is not given to all included politicians????
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Dec 15, 2018 04:49pm
Good decision our full support
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Dec 15, 2018 04:59pm
Its not enough... CJ should have given verdict to disqualify officers with immediate effect who have mote than one nationality.
CJ has given only directives, politicians and officers knows how can they delay the whole process.
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Dec 15, 2018 05:13pm
Let us start with Zulfi Bukhari
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Dec 15, 2018 05:59pm
@Aamir, the CJP did not say dont get multiple nationalities. he just said choose between keeping a government job, or keeping multiple nationalities.
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Dec 15, 2018 06:05pm
@Anti-Corruption , taking another passport means taking an oath of allegiance to another country, above Pakistan. There is a clear conflict of interest issue, and most importantly as it relates to economics, security and defence issues.
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Dec 15, 2018 06:11pm
@iftikhar, you take a loyalty oath for another country, above your original country. this is a serious security issue.
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Dec 15, 2018 06:39pm
Law is for everyone same even it is pml or ppp or pti
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Dec 15, 2018 07:14pm
Sack all of them!
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Dec 15, 2018 07:50pm
Dual nationality is essentially for ease of travel and other facilities like ownership of properties; for all other purposes they are foreign nationals owing allegiance to their adopted country towards which end they take an of loyalty to their adopted state
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Dec 15, 2018 08:00pm
@iftikhar, Does a passport ensure loyalty?
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Dec 15, 2018 08:18pm
My question is why not dual nationality be stopped forthwith, as amended section 3 (Dual Nationality Permission) in 1972 in Section 14 in citizenship Act 1951 is violation of article 5 of the constitution of Pakistan 1973 (Loyalty is basic duty of every Citizen of country). My Constitution Petition for this matter is already pending in High Court Karachi C.P 7897/2018)
Regards Faique Ali Jagirani
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Dec 15, 2018 09:41pm
It does not make sense to prevent dual national Pakistan born persons from government jobs other than defense and foreign affairs. Many dual nationals have world class experience and exposure which Pakistan can utilize and benefit from so a rational and not an emotional approach is required
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Dec 15, 2018 10:14pm
No foreign national should be allowed to work in the government.
There should be no exceptions
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Dec 15, 2018 10:45pm
About time, laws like these getting places, this will sure insure the commitment and patriotism of a Govt. service personal, rather than being other possible agendas to the Govt. Offices.
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Dec 16, 2018 12:42am
@Aamir, PM with Iqama is facing almost 10 years in jail time, these civil servants who enjoy the best of both east and western worlds MUST make a choice. They are part of a bigger problem Pakistan has.
Just Love is not enough Loyalty is also very crucial.
BRAVO CJ ... great decision ...keep it up.
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Dec 16, 2018 01:38am
People are waiting for January.
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Dec 16, 2018 03:25am
If there is no law that bars dual nationals from working in the government, how the court can impose this condition. I do not think Court has the constitutional right to do this.
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Dec 16, 2018 04:28am
weakest decision. He has tried to benefit dual nationals.
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Dec 16, 2018 02:30pm
@Aamir, iqama is not nationality
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Dec 16, 2018 04:04pm
Until and unless this includes all Parliamentarians and especially Ministers, the effects of this motion will be negligible and will serve as nothing more than what it really is -- a PR stunt. After all, the real power to corrupt lies in politics.
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Dec 16, 2018 04:41pm
Zulfi Bukhari should be the first to be shunted out of his job as advisor to PM. It is a pity IK has a record of defending his friends irrespective of merit.
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Dec 16, 2018 05:21pm
Really great decision, it will differentiate the patriot for serving the nation from looters who come only for enjoying state protocol.
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Dec 16, 2018 06:43pm
Dual nationality case: Govt told to make civil servants choose between job and other nationality...wonder if that really matters, what matters most is the sincerity and honesty. Pakistanis living abroad may have the expertise, knowledge, know-how, and it can be utilized. There is a particular set of values commonly associated with being professional. Experience, expertise, trustworthiness, wisdom, and good judgment are all attributes aspired to by senior professional people, be they doctors, engineers, lawyers, civil servants, or even the clergy. The problem is not dual nationality, the real problem is nepotism. it is not about what you know can take you to a higher level. it is all about who you know. the best solution is.. whosoever is involved in corruption especially those with dual citizenship strip the citizenship of Pakistan and let send him back where he now belongs making sure not to come back ever again.. sir with due respect some Pakistanis leaving abroad are more Pakistanis, more patriots than living in our motherland
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Dec 16, 2018 10:33pm
This is a ridiculous decision by the lawmakers of Pakistan. Western foreign countries allow dual citizens of Pakistan origin to hold senior public service positions, including positions that require top secret clearance. This decision will keep top talent away from the country and is a step backward.
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Dec 17, 2018 01:00am
Not necessarily a wise decision. A Pakistani who has taken another citizenship could still love Pakistan and want to serve the land of his/her birth by imparting the talent he/she acquired abroad. You would be denying the country of these benefits which a lot of times come free and/or at very low cost because these ex-pats want to serve and not make money out of Pakistan. If they want to make money they would never come back to Pakistan.
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Dec 17, 2018 05:03am
@khanm, the problem is DUAL nationality. This is NOT a ban, but introduce an extra level of check. In most countries, any significant role in government, even as a non-permanent contractor, security clearance to vet out risky behavior!
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Dec 17, 2018 05:04am
@YSaeed, read the whole piece - the judge said provinces should legislate.
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Dec 17, 2018 07:26am
@Basit, they did not obtain foriegn passport during their government service. They were already dual citizens when offered positiobs
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