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As a headline in an evening newspaper, these words could be termed as a wild allegation, or even suggest a paranoid personality disorder. The answer, however, is NOTA (none of the above), which hopefully will also be a new option for voters in the next election as to the contesting candidates.
History is replete with examples of powerful states capturing or colonising those which could not manage their own affairs. The trend now is even more vicious and based on two simple rules: maintain a civilised facade and keep it cost-effective. Thus, if you can buy the top leadership or simply install your own people at top positions in a country, you can easily make them do anything you want and even maintain a fig leaf of legality and democratic demeanour.
News that Pakistan’s top leadership, including the cabinet, parliament and the Governor’s Houses have been penetrated by foreign nationals has been doing the rounds for a long time. However, no one knew the truth or the extent to which this disease has spread. Nor was there a way to verify the facts. It is a closely guarded secret and foolproof mechanisms are in place to keep this information from getting public.
This widespread and systemic “capture the state through planted nationals” phenomena was partially exposed when the Supreme Court disqualified a number of individuals, some of whom occupied most sensitive public offices. But that is just the tip of the iceberg. To have a better and more accurate view of this strategic penetration one needs to revisit the cumbersome and tiresome path taken by a Pakistani citizen to uncover the truth about who rules Pakistan.
On September 12, 2009 a request was sent to the ministry of interior in Islamabad under the Freedom of Information (FOI) law, asking it to provide the names of all members of the National Assembly, ministers and senators who hold nationalities, a second passport, a green card or the right of permanent residence in any other country.
When no response was received for four months, the Wifaqi Mohtasib was approached so that he could order the interior ministry to do what they ought to have done within 21 days. On the intervention of Wifaqi Mohtasib (letter HQR/0000854/10 dated 27-01-2010), the ministry of interior sent an interesting response (Letter 3/2/2009-citz dated Feb.11, 2010) stating that “this subject does not relate to the ministry of interior and falls within the domain of the ministry of law, justice and parliamentary affairs.”
The FOI law was invoked once again and the ministry of law, justice and parliamentary affairs was asked to provide the information on those who hold dual nationalities. The ministry’s response (F.23.35/2000-PA-Admn, dated April 27, 2010) was simple. “The information is neither available nor falls within the ambit of this ministry and may be obtained from other organisations such as the Cabinet Division, National Assembly, the Senate, etc.” It was getting clear that the ministries had joined hands to play the “passing the parcel” game to hide the information on the foreigners who rule this country. Fed up with the “ask so-and- so” responses, in May 2010, this rather stubborn individual decided to invoke the FOI law to directly seek this information from five key institutions: the National Assembly, the ministry of foreign affairs, the Senate, the Cabinet Division and, of course, the most relevant (and the least interested), the Election Commission of Pakistan.
As expected, there was stony silence from all five departments and the Wifaqi Mohtasib had to be once again requested to chip in. The response from four out of five departments was only a repeat of what others had said before; “We have no information and this subject does not fall within our ambit.” This essentially meant that no one either knew, or was concerned about, those who ruled Pakistan.
But just when the chapter was about to be closed, a polite and simple response was received from the National Assembly of Pakistan. National Assembly Secretariat letter no. 8-(1)/2010-C&L, dated July 22, 2010, stated: “I am directed to refer to Wifaqi Mohtasib Secretariat’s Notice No. HQR/006534/1,0 dated 23 June 2010, and to inform you that as per available CVs (259) of the Members of National Assembly, the Honourable Members hold Pakistani Nationality.”
This unbelievable piece of information is the most accurate and reliable record so far – a confirmation by the National Assembly itself that there are 259 Pakistani citizens in the 342-member National Assembly. It may be reasonable to conclude that the remaining 83 members of the Assembly are either foreigners or hold dual nationalities.
The oath of loyalty to the UK, to the Queen and her heirs and successors, and the oath of loyalty to the US, which requires renunciation of all allegiance to any foreign prince, state or sovereignty and to bear arms on behalf of the United States, have been widely reported in the press. One wonders why we are bent upon legalising the process of a takeover and colonisation of Pakistan, and for whose benefit.
Naeem Sadiq is a management systems consultant and a freelance writer on social issues. Email: naeemsadiq@gmail.com
Foreigners in NA - Naeem Sadiq
P.S.
Senate has passed the law with respect to dual nationality- however, anything that is subjudice before the court of law, cannot be amended, it shows mala fide and can easily be proved !!!
History is replete with examples of powerful states capturing or colonising those which could not manage their own affairs. The trend now is even more vicious and based on two simple rules: maintain a civilised facade and keep it cost-effective. Thus, if you can buy the top leadership or simply install your own people at top positions in a country, you can easily make them do anything you want and even maintain a fig leaf of legality and democratic demeanour.
News that Pakistan’s top leadership, including the cabinet, parliament and the Governor’s Houses have been penetrated by foreign nationals has been doing the rounds for a long time. However, no one knew the truth or the extent to which this disease has spread. Nor was there a way to verify the facts. It is a closely guarded secret and foolproof mechanisms are in place to keep this information from getting public.
This widespread and systemic “capture the state through planted nationals” phenomena was partially exposed when the Supreme Court disqualified a number of individuals, some of whom occupied most sensitive public offices. But that is just the tip of the iceberg. To have a better and more accurate view of this strategic penetration one needs to revisit the cumbersome and tiresome path taken by a Pakistani citizen to uncover the truth about who rules Pakistan.
On September 12, 2009 a request was sent to the ministry of interior in Islamabad under the Freedom of Information (FOI) law, asking it to provide the names of all members of the National Assembly, ministers and senators who hold nationalities, a second passport, a green card or the right of permanent residence in any other country.
When no response was received for four months, the Wifaqi Mohtasib was approached so that he could order the interior ministry to do what they ought to have done within 21 days. On the intervention of Wifaqi Mohtasib (letter HQR/0000854/10 dated 27-01-2010), the ministry of interior sent an interesting response (Letter 3/2/2009-citz dated Feb.11, 2010) stating that “this subject does not relate to the ministry of interior and falls within the domain of the ministry of law, justice and parliamentary affairs.”
The FOI law was invoked once again and the ministry of law, justice and parliamentary affairs was asked to provide the information on those who hold dual nationalities. The ministry’s response (F.23.35/2000-PA-Admn, dated April 27, 2010) was simple. “The information is neither available nor falls within the ambit of this ministry and may be obtained from other organisations such as the Cabinet Division, National Assembly, the Senate, etc.” It was getting clear that the ministries had joined hands to play the “passing the parcel” game to hide the information on the foreigners who rule this country. Fed up with the “ask so-and- so” responses, in May 2010, this rather stubborn individual decided to invoke the FOI law to directly seek this information from five key institutions: the National Assembly, the ministry of foreign affairs, the Senate, the Cabinet Division and, of course, the most relevant (and the least interested), the Election Commission of Pakistan.
As expected, there was stony silence from all five departments and the Wifaqi Mohtasib had to be once again requested to chip in. The response from four out of five departments was only a repeat of what others had said before; “We have no information and this subject does not fall within our ambit.” This essentially meant that no one either knew, or was concerned about, those who ruled Pakistan.
But just when the chapter was about to be closed, a polite and simple response was received from the National Assembly of Pakistan. National Assembly Secretariat letter no. 8-(1)/2010-C&L, dated July 22, 2010, stated: “I am directed to refer to Wifaqi Mohtasib Secretariat’s Notice No. HQR/006534/1,0 dated 23 June 2010, and to inform you that as per available CVs (259) of the Members of National Assembly, the Honourable Members hold Pakistani Nationality.”
This unbelievable piece of information is the most accurate and reliable record so far – a confirmation by the National Assembly itself that there are 259 Pakistani citizens in the 342-member National Assembly. It may be reasonable to conclude that the remaining 83 members of the Assembly are either foreigners or hold dual nationalities.
The oath of loyalty to the UK, to the Queen and her heirs and successors, and the oath of loyalty to the US, which requires renunciation of all allegiance to any foreign prince, state or sovereignty and to bear arms on behalf of the United States, have been widely reported in the press. One wonders why we are bent upon legalising the process of a takeover and colonisation of Pakistan, and for whose benefit.
Naeem Sadiq is a management systems consultant and a freelance writer on social issues. Email: naeemsadiq@gmail.com
Foreigners in NA - Naeem Sadiq
P.S.
Senate has passed the law with respect to dual nationality- however, anything that is subjudice before the court of law, cannot be amended, it shows mala fide and can easily be proved !!!
