Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The prime minister has often expressed his faith in overseas Pakistanis’
capacity to contribute to the country’s progress, specifically its economy. In
recent years, the issue of dual nationals in public office has cropped up
several times, with public and legal opinions tending towards a narrow —
some would say too narrow — interpretation of the above-cited
constitutional bar.
In December last year, for instance, the Supreme Court ordered the federal
and provincial governments to set a deadline for bureaucrats with dual
nationalities to either give up their foreign citizenship or lose their jobs.
The apex court held that such individuals employed in the service of
Pakistan are a threat to the country’s interests. Such an outlook can be
criticised as erring too greatly on the side of caution.
The opposing point of view holds that most overseas Pakistanis retain
strong ties with their country of origin and should be given the chance to
participate fully in its political process. One could also posit that, sad to say,
among these immigrants are many of our best and brightest, and were they
legally allowed to stand for election, they could add to the quality of
representation of the Pakistani people. Nevertheless, if the PTI
government’s proposal does materialise, perhaps an exception could be
made in the case of cabinet ministers who are bound by an oath of secrecy.
The prime minister has often expressed his faith in overseas Pakistanis’
capacity to contribute to the country’s progress, specifically its economy. In
recent years, the issue of dual nationals in public office has cropped up
several times, with public and legal opinions tending towards a narrow —
some would say too narrow — interpretation of the above-cited
constitutional bar.
In December last year, for instance, the Supreme Court ordered the federal
and provincial governments to set a deadline for bureaucrats with dual
nationalities to either give up their foreign citizenship or lose their jobs.
The apex court held that such individuals employed in the service of
Pakistan are a threat to the country’s interests. Such an outlook can be
criticised as erring too greatly on the side of caution.
The opposing point of view holds that most overseas Pakistanis retain
strong ties with their country of origin and should be given the chance to
participate fully in its political process. One could also posit that, sad to say,
among these immigrants are many of our best and brightest, and were they
legally allowed to stand for election, they could add to the quality of
representation of the Pakistani people. Nevertheless, if the PTI
government’s proposal does materialise, perhaps an exception could be
made in the case of cabinet ministers who are bound by an oath of secrecy.