Government servants should not hold dual nationality. Ali Mohammad Khan

[unleashed]

ISLAMABAD: A proposed amendment in the civil service rules could affect as many as 20,000 civil servants, a parliamentary body was told on Thursday.

The matter came up before the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat during discussion on the ‘The Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2021’ moved by Senator Afnan Ullah Khan in the sitting held on Jan 17, 2022,

The proposed amendment bars civil servants from holding dual nationality and suggests a timeline for dual national civil servants to relinquish their foreign nationality.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Khan was of view that government servants should not hold dual nationality during service because one person cannot be loyal to two countries at the same time.


A recent report submitted to the Supreme Court on dual nationality revealed that more than 22,000 top government officers are dual nationals. According to the report, 11,000 officers belong to police and bureaucracy.

Dual nationality holder officers are currently working in interior division, power division, aviation division, finance division, petroleum, commerce ministry, establishment division, information ministry, railway and others, according to the report.

Establishment Secretary Afzal Latif pointed out that this bar would affect a large number of civil servants, but maintained that it was essential to obtain the Ministry of Interior’s point of view on the amendment.

However, Committee Chairman Rana Maqbool Ahmad directed the cabinet division and interior secretaries to ensure their presence in the next meeting to convey their perspective on the amendment under discussion.

Meanwhile, during discussion on the recent decisions of the Central Selection Board, Senator Dilawar Khan asked the Establishment Division to provide reasons for the supersession of officers.

Minister Ali Mohammad Khan told the committee that the matter was sub juice before the Lahore High Court and according to the rules, could not be discussed in committee. However, Chairman Rana Maqbool Ahmad said there was no harm in giving a report.

When the Establishment Division secretary contended that the information was classified and that he was not at liberty to discuss it with the committee, the chairman asked him to present a report in the next meeting, which would be held in-camera in view of the classified nature of the information at hand.

During the meeting, Senator Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur stressed that the Cabinet Division should present a scorecard of officers who had been superseded. “It is Prime Minister Imran Khan foremost priority to enhance tax collection and the irony is that, as of right now, Federal Board of Revenue officers are sitting in high court for their promotion,” she added.

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2022

 

[peagle]

ISLAMABAD: A proposed amendment in the civil service rules could affect as many as 20,000 civil servants, a parliamentary body was told on Thursday.

The matter came up before the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat during discussion on the ‘The Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2021’ moved by Senator Afnan Ullah Khan in the sitting held on Jan 17, 2022,

The proposed amendment bars civil servants from holding dual nationality and suggests a timeline for dual national civil servants to relinquish their foreign nationality.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Khan was of view that government servants should not hold dual nationality during service because one person cannot be loyal to two countries at the same time.


A recent report submitted to the Supreme Court on dual nationality revealed that more than 22,000 top government officers are dual nationals. According to the report, 11,000 officers belong to police and bureaucracy.

Dual nationality holder officers are currently working in interior division, power division, aviation division, finance division, petroleum, commerce ministry, establishment division, information ministry, railway and others, according to the report.

Establishment Secretary Afzal Latif pointed out that this bar would affect a large number of civil servants, but maintained that it was essential to obtain the Ministry of Interior’s point of view on the amendment.

However, Committee Chairman Rana Maqbool Ahmad directed the cabinet division and interior secretaries to ensure their presence in the next meeting to convey their perspective on the amendment under discussion.

Meanwhile, during discussion on the recent decisions of the Central Selection Board, Senator Dilawar Khan asked the Establishment Division to provide reasons for the supersession of officers.

Minister Ali Mohammad Khan told the committee that the matter was sub juice before the Lahore High Court and according to the rules, could not be discussed in committee. However, Chairman Rana Maqbool Ahmad said there was no harm in giving a report.

When the Establishment Division secretary contended that the information was classified and that he was not at liberty to discuss it with the committee, the chairman asked him to present a report in the next meeting, which would be held in-camera in view of the classified nature of the information at hand.

During the meeting, Senator Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur stressed that the Cabinet Division should present a scorecard of officers who had been superseded. “It is Prime Minister Imran Khan foremost priority to enhance tax collection and the irony is that, as of right now, Federal Board of Revenue officers are sitting in high court for their promotion,” she added.

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2022

A long overdue step.

Any holder of a foreign passport should have non of the rights that directly impact the running of the country, no votes, no elected office and no public service above a certain level.

There are lot of other rights already given, such as house ownership, visa free entry and right to work in the private sector without extra permission etc, that is enough.

 

[unleashed]

A long overdue step.

Any holder of a foreign passport should have non of the rights that directly impact the running of the country, no votes, no elected office and no public service about a certain level.

There are lot of other rights already given, such as house ownership, visa free entry and right to work in the private sector without extra permission etc, that is enough.

I second you Sir

 

[Apollon]

One can not serve two masters. Its that simple. Infact i would ban double citizenship completly.

 

[Viper27]

Just one of the serious loopholes that exist within our system. You can’t join the armed forces as a dual national but you can be a senior government officer in the petroleum, aviation and other sensitive government departments/entities while holding dual citizenship.

However, given the influence many bureaucrats exercise it is not forseeable that such a step will be given the nod from Parliament.

 

[313ghazi]

100% agree. I hold two passports, but if Russia invades i'm on the next flight to Pakistan, not on the front lines.

For a person like me, it doesn't matter if I have favourites, it doesn't matter if I buy myself nationality in Cyprus or somewhere else.

For a govt official it should be a dealbreaker and a massive red flag.

 

[baqai]

yes totally agree, if i am not wrong govt servants do need permissions to travel before as well?

 

[muhammadhafeezmalik]

Just one of the serious loopholes that exist within our system. You can’t join the armed forces as a dual national but you can be a senior government officer in the petroleum, aviation and other sensitive government departments/entities while holding dual citizenship.

However, given the influence many bureaucrats exercise it is not forseeable that such a step will be given the nod from Parliament.

Two of my cousins married to two UK national sister who are also our cousins, one of them was martyred in South Wazirastan and other is now serving as Lt. Colonel was also injured during war, their loyalty to the country is unquestionable but still I feel that those who want to serve the country should relinquish their dual nationality to end the doubts.

 

[m52k85]

A long overdue step.

Any holder of a foreign passport should have non of the rights that directly impact the running of the country, no votes, no elected office and no public service above a certain level.

There are lot of other rights already given, such as house ownership, visa free entry and right to work in the private sector without extra permission etc, that is enough.

I second that despite being a patriotic overseas Pakistani.

 

[IbnAbdullah]

Salaam


I think the problem is that in many cases government officials who hold duel nationality engage in a lot of corruption and send mobey out. Once they see problems coming their way they leave the country. Having that option makes them a lot more brazen.

 

[muhammadhafeezmalik]

What about these two??

 

[jupiter2007]

What about these two??

View attachment 813740

faisal vawda and Faisal subzwari

 

[ghazi52]

Dual citizenships only allowing in certain countries
So, it can be other way around. May be few person not loyal to their second home.

 

[m52k85]

What about these two??

View attachment 813740

On principle they also shouldnt be. However, one could make an exception as to whoever occupies the post on Overseas Pakistanis Ministry, since on overseas Pakistani would be most qualified to know the troubles of OS Pakistanis.

 

[FuturePAF]

Perhaps overseas Pakistans can serve as consultants or on think tanks, but not as officials.