Overseas Pakistanis are more loyal to the country than those living in the country. This may be due to distance increasing fondness, or the realization of being a national and a second class national is never the same, or just a comparison of what all Pakistan can be and is not. Whatever the reason, the Pakistanis living abroad are mostly wonderful ambassadors of the country. They include professionals like doctors and engineers and other skilled workers. They shine in their own fields and outperform many of other nationalities. Their hard work and discipline make them role model citizens. Most of them have left the country because they have found better opportunities and environment overseas to express their talent and potential. This phenomenon is known as brain drain and has been under debate for a long time.
However, the phenomenon of position and power drain has recently become more debatable by the influx of dual nationals who live in two countries. Such people become floating citizens who from time to time come back to their country of origin to show their immense love for homeland but fly away when the position and power drains out. These dual nationals, as they are known, have families in both countries, assets mostly in foreign countries, and passports of multi-colors. These are not just wealthy families who want to invest abroad as well as settle their children in developed countries for better access to higher education, but many politicians who want to keep their options open for quitting either of the two countries given the incentives or disincentives. These incentives include holding political posts and positions that give status, access to big money, and elite privileges and perks. The disincentives include loss of power, danger of persecution and stripping of position and assets.
The current issue of public office holders possessing dual nationality has exposed dual passports, dual payoffs and dual abodes of many government officers. In 2015, the Senate had approved an amendment envisaging a ban on holding dual nationality by judges, armed forces personnel and government officials. The bill sought amendments to Articles 177 and 193 of the Constitution, stating that no dual nationality holder can become a judge of the Supreme Court or high courts.
"A person in the Service of Pakistan shall not hold dual nationality or citizenship of any foreign country," said another amendment in Article 240 of the Constitution.
The Chief Justice took a suo motu notice of government officers holding dual nationality. The reported data seems understated. A total of 213 government officers serving in various ministries, divisions, provincial departments and autonomous bodies have admitted to holding dual nationality, with some of them assigned to key positions, a report compiled by the Establishment Division reveals. The Chief Justice has asked Nadra to verify this data. This list includes some key positions that may require extremely sensitive data. Such confidentiality requirements make a person whose national commitments are already divided, endanger national security. Police officers seem to think it's normal to apply for dual citizenship. The list revealed includes Additional IGs, DIGs and commercial staff posted in embassies. Take the case of Rao Anwaar. He is allegedly a dual national. The whole Sindh police led by the IG Sindh has failed to trace him in Pakistan. The comfort of having another nationality may make it very difficult for the families of 440 people allegedly murdered by him under the guise of police encounters to get justice.
Then come the "honourable" members of the parliament. The level of national commitment can vary from having dual nationality to having an Iqama. From the ex-Prime Minister to the present Foreign Minister, Iqama seems to be almost a pre-ministerial qualification. However, dual nationality has also become a common lower and upper house décor. The Senate Election brought to fore this viral senatorial infection. The Chief Justice took a suo motu notice and asked the Attorney General to verify the nationality status of the Senators who contested the election. Four names have been forwarded by the Attorney General who possess dual nationality. All four are claiming that they have surrendered their nationality.
The interesting thing was that one of the four candidates, Sadia Abbasi, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi's sister, applied for surrender two days before the submission of papers. Not even the most efficient and the fastest process in the world will get the US clearance in a matter of a few days. Additionally, it also raises the question that in her first term as a Senator, which was from 2003 to 2009, she was a dual national and took the oath, arguably, under a false declaration. Whatever the decision, this reveals the mockery of the house of "representatives". Whom are these people representing? Whose voice are they going to raise? Whose rights are they going to protect? Whose accountability are they going to carry out? What sort of legislation are they going to pass? Whose loyalty are they going to claim?
The answers to these questions will be the answers to why Pakistan instead of progressing has regressed. Senators who have families, business and assets in the US, Canada, etc, are literally giving this message that this country is not good enough for investment nor for our families to live; they are representing not Pakistanis who are struggling to survive but those who are transit citizens ready to take off when conditions become unfavourable; they will never be the voice of the masses but the voice of the VIPs who have given them access to this super luxury club called Senate; and ultimately they will only pass legislations that allow these dual citizens to be above law, above accountability, above the constitution. Dual nationality for public office holders thus is dual loyalty, a state where duplicity flourishes and integrity perishes.
(The writer can be reached at [email protected])
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