NA moved to bar dual nationals from becoming judge

ISLAMABAD: Noor Alam Khan, a parliamentarian of Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan and former chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), has submitted the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2024, to the National Assembly Secretariat.

The bill seeks to impose a bar on lawyers holding dual nationality or citizenship of any other country from becoming judges of the Supreme Court or any of the High Courts.

Through the proposed bill, Noor Alam Khan aims to amend Articles 177, 193, and 208 of the Constitution to ensure that individuals without dual nationality or citizenship of a foreign country could become judges of the High Courts and Supreme Court.

Additionally, Noor Alam proposes the addition of a clause stating that a person holding dual nationality or citizenship of any other country shall not be appointed as an officer or servant of any court.

The statement of objects and reasons of the bill emphasises the importance of judges of the High Court and Supreme Court having their allegiance to the country in which they hold positions of authority and trust. It argues that individuals holding the nationality of foreign states may compromise the interests of their country of origin, highlighting the need to ensure the loyalty of Judges under Article 5 of the Constitution.