PPP MNA Claims 22,000 Bureaucrats Hold Dual Citizenship, Raises Concerns During NA Committee Meeting
ISLAMABAD – Abdul Qadir Patel, a member of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), made a bold claim during a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Interior, revealing that approximately 22,000 bureaucrats in Pakistan currently hold dual citizenship.
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The meeting, chaired by Khurram Nawaz, focused on proposed legislation related to granting Pakistani passports to citizens of countries with dual citizenship agreements with Pakistan. Patel pointed out that a significant portion of federal secretaries, estimated at 99%, hold dual citizenship, raising questions about the practice.
Key Points from the Meeting:
- Dual Citizenship in Bureaucracy: Patel emphasized the contrast between the common perception that politicians should not hold dual citizenship due to potential national security risks, while bureaucrats, who have access to sensitive files and state secrets, are allowed dual citizenship. He questioned, “What secrets do politicians have? Everyone knows everything about them.”
- Legislation for Child Courts: The committee also approved a bill for the establishment of child courts to handle child abuse cases, addressing a growing concern over the protection of children in the country.
- Debate on Dual Citizenship: PPP members raised questions about the number of Pakistanis with dual citizenship, and Agha Rafiullah sought details on how many individuals had renounced it. He also highlighted a case where a prominent individual was given a high-ranking position despite holding dual citizenship.
- Opposition to Granting Passports: Nabeel Gabol, another PPP member, opposed legislation that would grant passports to individuals who have renounced their Pakistani citizenship, arguing that it should not be passed to benefit a particular individual or party. He stressed that renouncing Pakistani citizenship abroad is an insult to the country.
- Support for Bill: Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry from PML-N supported the bill, stating that renouncing citizenship is not necessarily an insult to the country, particularly when those who misuse their Pakistani citizenship abroad have had their passports canceled.
- Further Discussions Needed: Zartaj Gul from PTI called for a more detailed briefing from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to clarify the proposed dual citizenship legislation.
The Standing Committee has decided to invite officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Establishment Division in the next meeting to discuss the matter further.
