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Civil servants told to come clean on dual nationality or else: SC
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday gave civil servants the ‘last chance’ to come clean on possessing dual nationality. During hearing of a suo motu case pertaining to civil servants having dual nationality, the Supreme Court was apprised that only 204 of 33,000 officials had admitted that they possessed dual nationality. A three-member Supreme […]
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday gave civil servants the ‘last chance’ to come clean on possessing dual nationality.
During hearing of a suo motu case pertaining to civil servants having dual nationality, the Supreme Court was apprised that only 204 of 33,000 officials had admitted that they possessed dual nationality.
A three-member Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Ijazul Ahsan expressed surprise over the data submitted by the establishment division and termed it ‘unsatisfactory’.
The court noted that it seemed to be a very meagre figure keeping in view the total number of the officials, and directed the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to help trace civil servants who possessed dual nationality but were not disclosing it. The court gave a ‘final chance’ to the civil servants as well to come clean on the issue.
The chief justice noted that the court will investigate the matter and if anyone was found to have concealed his foreign nationality, he will be dealt with sternly. He said it was not in the interest of Pakistan that persons having dual nationality serve on important posts.
During the hearing, the chief justice asked the Advocate General Sindh whether Rao Anwar, suspended SSP of Malir who is accused in Naqeebullah Mehsud murder case, possessed dual nationality. The advocate general, however, replied that he was unaware of it. The chief justice directed him to check and apprise the court that how many times Rao Anwar had travelled abroad.
Earlier on January 17, the Supreme Court had summoned the details of senior government officials and members of the judiciary having dual nationality.
During the hearing on February 14, the chief justice himself had read out a report by registrars of the apex court and the high courts which declared that no official of the Supreme Court or high courts was found to have dual nationality.
Currently, judges are not barred from holding dual nationality.
In 2012, a Supreme Court bench headed by then chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry had disqualified almost a dozen lawmakers for holding dual nationality.
Published in Daily Times, March 2nd 2018.
