Dual Nationality

This subject is talk of the nation in the recent months with Interior Minister labeled as “not a truthful” by the apex court because he hid his British nationality while contesting Senate elections some time ago. Under the Constitution of Pakistan, a dual national cannot hold a public office position. It is generally believed that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of such dual nationals holding public positions in this country. And a common question that everyone seeks a reply of is; are dual nationals really serving this country? There are plenty of arguments and counterarguments in favor of and against dual nationality vis-à-vis the service to Pakistan. The incumbent government, nevertheless, is in strong favor of dual nationals and considering seriously about bringing legislation through the parliament to allow its current ministers and other legislators to continue “serving” this country.

According to the statistics, Pakistan was 5^th largest remittances recipient country of the world in 2011. Therefore, this fact makes a strong argument in favor of dual nationals and on this input they consider themselves qualified to enjoying voting rights and holding public jobs. Let us take a deep look as to how Pakistan is able to receive high remittances every year.

Pakistan has a large labor force that works overseas predominantly in the Middle East whereas the rest is in Europe, North America and Far East. It earns billions of foreign exchange every year and this precious money makes way into Pakistan through legal and illegal means. The labor force in the Middle East comprising engineers, doctor, IT specialists, skilled and unskilled labor, is not dual national because of the main reason that the rich Arab States do not award nationality to aliens. They constitute unmarried young people whose families are in Pakistan and are a major source of high regular remittances to provide financial support to their families and utilization of surplus money into small businesses as well as investments in real estate.

Some moderately technical and less educated people also went to North America and Europe in 1960-70s for better living and prosperous future. Over the years they have earned the nationality and have settled down. They are mostly doing small businesses. Their newer generations, more educated, are in engaged in service sector too. The old generation still maintains ties with Pakistan and is also a source of some investments/remittances.

Another category of Pakistani origin people comprises of highly educated professionals like doctors, engineers, IT Specialists, etc. who through either scholarships, own expenses or government-funded loans completed their higher studies in Western countries, found lucrative jobs and settled down there, and hence qualified for the nationality of their new countries. These technocrats use green Passport during their infrequent visits to Pakistan because it saves them from hassle of obtaining visas, unrestricted stay and an elation to using it again through which they explored the new world, and climbed upon the ladder of career development. Perhaps it is the only time when they feel proud of Pakistan Passport. These people also contribute to the high remittance of foreign exchange as they support their families/parents back home in Pakistan and also invest their hard earned money in the real estate (believed to be the most lucrative investment that promises higher returns) and other businesses.

The people mentioned in the preceding three paragraphs neither involve themselves in the politics of their home country nor do they have time or resources for such an activity. Nevertheless, they keep themselves emotionally attached through communication means and/or watching satellite TV channels of their country of origin. Their hearts glow and gloom with news of prosperity and corruption. They rejoice the glory of cricket team and despair the frequent martial law. And they hope endlessly for rule of law, honest leadership and development on sustainable basis. Most of the aged and senior citizens wish to return back, at least for burial in their ancestral graveyards because they consider that there would be more people to visit their last abodes and offer prayers for them! They hardly bother if they are disallowed voting rights/holding public offices in their original country.

Yet there is another category of people, special people, comprising retired top bureaucrats/generals and politicians who plundered their country while holding important positions and transferred/laundered most of their black money into the Western countries. This looted wealth amounts in millions of US dollar and allows them to enjoy the unrestricted stay and often results in getting them nationality. These extremely rich dual nationals are true law abiding citizens in their adopted countries but they never restrict themselves from playing a nonstop dirty game in Pakistan. The unquenchable desire of having power, fame and wealth through corrupt and illegal means never subsides in them. These people are the worst affected ones from the existing constitutional law against dual nationality. Over the years Pakistan has been ruled by such people in violation of the law. The irony is that they openly confessed of having two simultaneous nationalities while in power and not even law courts could bar them from holding the highest public offices. They work against the clock; instead of remittances, they funnel out reasonable chunks of precious money to the West.

The bureaucrats and top ranked officers, with their dual nationality hidden and still ruling the country, are just waiting to rob as much as they can before retiring from jobs after reaching their superannuation age plus spending some more years as indispensable Advisors. When they come to a conclusion that they can no longer play with the diminishing resources they start leaving this country for the golden West by saying; Ye Mulk Kabhi Taraqqi Nahi Kar Sakta! (This country can never develop due to poor governance, corruption, illiteracy and terrorism!)

So where do we sum up? Apparently there is no serious issue in giving dual nationals the power to cast vote for national elections, however allowing them to contest elections would be wrong and unjustifiable. They are already under oath with the adopted countries that once needed they would fight for its rights and interests. Their loyalty already diluted between two countries with onus and priority going in favor of the new ones, therefore, dual nationals would in no way safeguard interests of their original country.

Perhaps, allowing dual nationals to bury their remains back in home country is already a great favor to them!