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PML-N MPA seeks ban on appointment of dual nationals to government service
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐ Pakistan /Elections & Politics

PML-N MPA seeks ban on appointment of dual nationals to government service

From Dawn · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • A resolution submitted to the Punjab Assembly seeks to ban dual nationals from government service appointments.
  • The resolution cites concerns over allegiance and access to sensitive information, noting an estimated 24,000 serving employees hold dual nationality.
  • It argues that oaths of allegiance to foreign states may compromise loyalty to Pakistan.

A resolution has been submitted to the Punjab Assembly proposing a ban on individuals holding dual nationality from being appointed to government service. The move stems from concerns about potential conflicts of allegiance and the risk of sensitive state information falling into foreign hands.

The resolution, introduced by ruling PML-N MPA Amjad Ali Javed, urges both the federal and Punjab governments to enact legislation preventing dual nationals from securing government jobs. According to the resolution's text, an investigative report indicated that approximately 24,000 current government employees across various departments possess dual citizenship. The report also noted that many of these employees' family members hold foreign citizenship, while others are in the process of obtaining it.

The core argument presented is that acquiring citizenship in another country typically requires an oath of allegiance to that nation. This, the resolution contends, could raise questions about an individual's ultimate loyalty to Pakistan. The proposal highlights that dual nationals are already prohibited from certain positions on similar grounds, suggesting a precedent for such restrictions.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dawn. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.