ISLAMABAD, July 11: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior Affairs on Tuesday rejected a bill to simplify rules for granting citizenship to foreign nationals married to Pakistani women, member of the committee Nayyar Bokhari said.

The committee headed by Sardar Talib Nakkai rejected the proposal presented by a ruling party member, Ms Mehnaz Rafi.

The bill was also opposed by the some members of the ruling party, including Akram Bhindar. Those who opposed the bill included Liaquat Baloch and Nayyar Bokhari.

According to the government policy, any foreign woman who marries a Pakistani man can get Pakistani nationality on specified terms and conditions while a foreign man marrying a Pakistani woman cannot become a Pakistani citizen.