News
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Dual nationality bill presented in Senate* PML-N, ANP stage walkout in protest
* Rabbani, Aitzaz also express reservations
* Bill recommends abolishing restrictions on dual nationals from contesting elections
By Ijaz Kakakhel
ISLAMABAD: The dual nationality bill, which recommends abolishing restrictions on dual nationals from contesting elections, was presented in the Senate on Tuesday amid protest by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Awami National Party (ANP), and reservations expressed by some ruling party legislators, including Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan and Mian Raza Rabbani.
During Tuesday’s session, Law Minister Farooq H Naek presented the bill in the Senate. According to the bill, dual national Pakistanis would be allowed to assume public offices. The law minister said that Pakistan had agreements with 16 countries over dual nationality. The countries include Syria, Canada, Australia, Jordan, the Netherlands, Germany, United States, Belgium, Italy, Jordon, France, Britain, Iceland and others.
The law minister said Article 63(1)(c) of the constitution was unfair to Pakistanis residing in foreign countries. According to the rules, the minister said this constitutional amendment should go directly to the standing committee concerned.
PML-N Senator Zafar Ali Shah informed the House that the sense of the members was required before sending the bill to the committee concerned. Presenting such a bill and referring it to the committee without listening to the House was totally against justice, he said. The PML-N member said the bill was totally against the spirit of constitution. He termed the bill “a joke with the country”, saying by passing it, a foreign-nationality holder might be allowed to become federal minister for defence and even prime minister.
ANP Senator Haji Adeel told the House that his party would oppose a bill which intended to make changes to the 1973 consensus constitutions, which was signed by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Khan Abdul Wali Khan. Another ANP senator, Zahid Khan, also assured the House that his party would not allow passing the bill at any cost.
PML-N leader in Senate Raja Zafarul Haq, speaking on the bill, said that making the 1973 constitution was one of the big achievements of the PPP, but making changes to the 1973 constitution was the agenda of some foreign forces that aimed to save a few people. It was a total injustice with the country, he said.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Senator Tahir Hussain Mashhadi also expressed some reservations over the bill, saying that it was a constitutional amendment and required two-thirds majority for passage.
Senator Raza Rabbani and prominent lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan also expressed reservations on the bill. Both the senators questioned the dual nationality agreement with the US, saying that to opt for US citizenship, a person had to express loyalty to the US. If such was the situation, they said, the government should revisit its agreement with the US over dual nationality.
After long a debate over the bill, members of the ANP and PML-N staged a walkout from the Senate.
Haji Adeel of the ANP questioned, “Why the 22nd amendment was being tabled before the 21st?” He said his party would oppose the changes to the constitution.
The law minister explained that the 21st amendment bill had been presented in the National Assembly and that it was related to increment in the judges’ pensions. The bill had been submitted before the pertinent standing committee, he said. “The floor will be open for debate,” Naek said, adding, “If anyone has reservations over the bill, they can suggest amendments to it.”
The PPP-led coalition government came up with the proposed bill in order to make lawmakers having dual nationality retain their parliament memberships as well as remain eligible to contest the general elections.Senate Chairman Nayyar Hussain Bokhari sent the bill to the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice for consideration.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk