WHILE government officials in Pakistan are required to take an oath ensuring allegiance to the national interest, what appears in practice is a stark contrast, as some of these officials along with their families hold dual nationalities. The oath, therefore, appears to be mere verbosity in practice with little effective, practical implementation.

In the United States, even acquiring citizenship requires applicants to renounce prior allegiances or affiliations. Applicants pledge to follow and support the American Constitution. The Oath of Allegiance requires them to swear: “I will bear arms on behalf of the US when required by law, that I will perform work required by law; and I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, so help me God.” This makes it clear that the oath prompts citizens to detach themselves from any semblance of loyalty to their ancestral homeland.

The security and sanctity of Pakistan are far more important than the con-venience of any individual during service or after retirement. The state has already suffered due to the blunders of such opportunists who have compromised their dignity and loyalty in pursuit of a luxurious lifestyle and personal status, including acquiring a Green Card, by compromising sworn confidentiality. It is high time we learnt from past mistakes.

Moreover, strict law enforcement should be urgently implemented regarding foreign citizenship of relevant stake- holders. People who hold dual nationalities should be restricted to the private sector.

Malik Tariq Ali
Lahore

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026