Uniform Ban on Dual Nationality Proposed for Government Officials

A significant proposal has been made by the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat to uniformly apply the ban on dual nationality to judges, bureaucrats, and other government officers, without exceptions. This recommendation was made during a meeting chaired by Senator Rana Mahmood ul Hassan at the Parliament House, where "The Civil Servant (Amendment) Bill, 2024" was discussed ¹.

Senator Saadia Abbasi emphasized the importance of equal application of the restriction on dual nationality, arguing that exceptions should not be selective. Senator Afnanullah Khan highlighted the conflict of interest posed by dual nationality, particularly for individuals serving in key government positions.

The committee directed the Secretary of the Establishment Division to submit a detailed report on civil servants holding dual nationalities. Senator Abbasi also urged the government to formulate a clear policy addressing dual nationality and its implications for public officeholders.

Cabinet Division Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal noted that maintaining loyalty to two nations is inherently challenging. The committee decided to review the Secretaries Committee's report in its next meeting to reach a resolution on the matter.