ISLAMABAD: The dual nationality bill faced opposition from all quarters when it was presented in the Senate. The PML-N, coalition partners and some members of the PPP expressed their reservations over the bill.
The bill was presented in the Senate by Law Minister Farooq H Naek. The PML-N and ANP which is a coalition partner of the government staged a walkout in protest to the bill.
Earlier during the session ANP Senator Haji Adeel said that Pakistan’s agreements with 16 countries regarding dual nationality should be presented. Adeel also asked if someone who also had Pakistani nationality could become the US president or a parliamentarian in another country.
Senators Aitzaz Ahsan and Raza Rabbani from the PPP also expressed their reservations over the bill. Ahsan said that when someone takes oath as an American citizen, they have to renounce other nationalities. “It is written in the US citizenship oath that a person can also take up arms in defence of the country.”
Senator Rabbani asked for a review of the dual nationality agreement with the US.
Reservations were also expressed by the MQM. Senator Tahir Mashadi said he would inform the standing committee about his reservations.