Overseas Pakistanis oppose dual nationality bill

LONDON: British Pakistanis have reacted angrily to the private NA bill seeking to introduce a new constitutional provision that would disqualify dual nationality holders from public office, including Parliament.
At a meeting held here to protest the introduction of the controversial bill in the Lower House leading British Pakistanis condemned the bill, and said if approved, it would damage Pakistan economically, socially and culturally. Those who spoke on the occasion also included those British Pakistanis who have either served as assembly members or are seeking elected public office in the future.
Lord Nazir Ahmed said it was a shame that a member of Pakistan’s national assembly suspected the patriotism of dual nationality holders. He said that over 10 million Pakistanis had stood by their motherland through thick and thin and it was great that Pakistan’s legislation allowed full accommodation to its overseas nationals.
He said overseas Pakistanis contribute an estimated $14 billion a year to the national exchequer, contribute hugely to the real estate business as well as all other forms of the economy and it was unfair to target them in such a mean way. “The bill should be buried or amended to the effect that it should aim at targeting thieves of Pakistan’s national wealth,” he suggested.
He hoped that sanity will prevail and the bill will be thrown out, as Pakistan can’t afford alienating its own citizens who are its ambassadors abroad.
Dr Ashraf Chohan, PML-N Punjab Assembly lawmaker and a Conservative politician, said it was sad that some people were doing politics of controversy at the cost of Pakistan to damage Pakistan’s ties with its biggest assets - the overseas Pakistanis.
He said the introduction of the bill showed some members of the assembly were out of touch with the wishes and aspirations of the people they claim to represent. He appealed to all parliamentarians to reject the bill and send a clear message to the overseas Pakistanis that they are as much Pakistani as any other, whether living in Pakistan or abroad. He said if the bill is passed, it will only exacerbate the problems of Pakistan and will create a gulf between Pakistan and its citizens living abroad who were bringing wealth and experience to Pakistan.
Hameed Pothi, who was until recently member of the Kashmir Council, said that bill was a conspiracy against overseas Pakistanis and it would only harm Pakistan and would achieve nothing. He proposed that the government should introduce measures to catch the crooks who are busy stealing the wealth of Pakistan, not those who are helping Pakistan through remittances.
He said overseas Pakistanis were contributing more towards Pakistan’s progress than the international money lending agencies. “Instead of being thankful to the overseas Pakistanis, some people want us persecuted,” he lamented.