I AM amazed at the recent debate in Pakistan on whether an individual who obtains a second nationality should be allowed to be a legislator in Pakistan. I don't know about other countries, but I would like to shed some light on obtaining the nationality of the US.

Any individual immigrant wishing to become a United States citizen must take an oath of allegiance. The principles of the US Oath of Allegiance are: 1. Allegiance to the United States Constitution. 2. Renunciation of allegiance to any foreign country to which the immigrant has had previous allegiances. 3. Defence of the Constitution to any foreign country to which the immigrant has had previous allegiances.

4. Promise to serve the United States armed forces when required by law. 5. Promise to perform civilian duties of national importance when required by law.

The exact wording of the oath is as follows:

“I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform non-combatant service in the armed forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.”

Now, I leave it to the readers to decide: can someone who has renounced allegiance to Pakistan and to the sovereignty of Pakistan and who has now declared sole allegiance to the sovereignty and constitution of the United States, be sincere to the state of Pakistan and should be allowed to be a legislator and decision-maker of the fate of the people of Pakistan?

SOHAIL MUNIR Karachi

Bureaucrats

ALTHOUGH I am an expatriate living in the US, I strongly believe that people with dual nationality must not have the right to be in the parliament of Pakistan.

They should not be allowed to make decisions about the future of millions while keeping the nationalities of other countries.

Having a right to vote should be debated because due to the media revolution people sitting in the US know the situation in Pakistan and I would personally like to be a part of the election process.

The following constitutional amendments about foreign nationals should be considered:

People with dual nationality and the nationals of other countries must not get the right to be a parliament member or even a bureaucrat.

The bureaucrats, parliamentarians and even their spouses must also have only Pakistani nationality at least two years prior to the time when they contest the parliamentary (House and Senate) elections or become a candidate for the position in bureaucracy.

MISBAH U. AZAM USA

Australian law

Following are the rules for the disqualification of the members of the parliament in Australian constitution:

Article 44 says “…any person who (i) is under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience, or adherence to a foreign power, or is a subject or a citizen or entitled to the rights or privileges of a subject or citizen of a foreign power: or (ii) is attained of treason, or (iii) is an undischarged bankrupt or insolvent: or (iv) holds any office of profit or (v) has any direct or indirect pecuniary interest shall be incapable of being chosen or of sitting as a senator or a member of the House of Representatives.

GHULAM MOHAMMED Karachi