PPP MNA claims 22,000 Pakistani Bureaucrats hold dual citizenship

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MNA Abdul Qadir Patel claimed that 22,000 bureaucrats currently hold dual citizenship.

Patel expressed these views in a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior, chaired by Khurram Nawaz.

The committee considered the proposed legislation to issue Pakistani passports to citizens of countries that have dual citizenship agreements with Pakistan.

Committee member Abdul Qadir Patel said that 99 percent of federal secretaries hold dual citizenship. He said that it is often said that politicians should not hold dual citizenship because they can reveal state secrets, but bureaucrats have access to all files and secrets and are allowed to hold dual citizenship. He asked, “What secrets do politicians have?” Everyone knows everything about them.”

The National Assembly’s standing committee also approved a bill to establish child courts to deal with cases of child abuse.

Peoples Party member Agha Rafiullah sought details about Pakistanis holding dual citizenship, asking how many people had renounced their citizenship. He pointed out that last year, one person was given relief and a prominent position after holding dual citizenship.

Peoples Party member Nabil Gabol opposed the legislation to issue passports to those who renounced Pakistani citizenship.

Gabol said that the legislation should not be made only for the benefit of a particular party. He suggested calling the Foreign Ministry officials to discuss the issue in detail in the next meeting, stressing that renouncing Pakistani citizenship abroad is an insult to the country.

PML-N member Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, while supporting the bill, said renouncing citizenship abroad is not an insult to the country. He pointed out that abusing Pakistan abroad The passports of those who have been denied citizenship have been cancelled.

PTI member Zartaj Gul demanded further briefing on the dual citizenship law and asked the Foreign Ministry to clarify what is included in the proposed law.

The Standing Committee on Interior has decided to summon officials from the Foreign Ministry and the Establishment Division in its next meeting.