Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Monday said legally a person with dual citizenship cannot become a member of the National Assembly and the Senate, however there is no such bar for them to hold any other position.
“In democracy, the status of elected representatives is higher because of the people’s trust in them, however government’s may need non-elected technical experts as their advisers. The practice is common worldwide,” Qureshi told a private television channel.
The Cabinet Division on July 18 had issued the details of assets and dual nationalities of 20 advisers and special assistants to the prime minister that showed four of his aides having dual nationalities.
Qureshi mentioned that several non-elected persons in the past rendered their services to governments. However, Prime Minister Imran Khan has set a precedent of declaring the dual citizenship and financial assets of his advisers and assistants. “To date, no political party other than Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has adopted such a clear policy to avoid conflict of interests and restrict use of positions for personal or economic gains,” he said.
Qureshi said according to the constitution, the prime minister can appoint five such advisers, adding that his advisers and technocrats have been appointed as per law.
Foreign Minister Qureshi said that every government needs technical expertise and the inclusion of such non-elected members with their elected counterparts strikes ‘a healthy balance’. “One must accept that this practice [declaring assets and dual nationality details of cabinet members] is an unprecedented one,” he said.
Responding to a question about the conflict of interest of such members, Qureshi said that PTI’s policy is clear on the matter. “It is binding on everyone not to do anything that gives the perception that an individual used his government office for personal gains or financial growth,” he clarified.
In response to a question as to whether the law should be the same for elected and non-elected members on holding dual nationalities, the foreign minister said that both were needed in government. “Elected members have [their own] value. They are representatives of the people but every elected government needs expertise,” he said. Qureshi said that people in the past had used the same space allowed in the constitution and Imran Khan has done the same. “You have to have a balance,” he said.
In response to a question on whether the prime minister will ask cabinet members to let go of their other nationality, Qureshi said that a cabinet meeting will be held on Tuesday (today) and the prime minister can address the dual nationalities’ issue more.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry on Monday said that under a parliamentary system of governance, non-elected individuals cannot participate in the decision-making process of the country. While talking to media in Islamabad, the minister noted that only elected lawmakers can partake in decision-making and under the constitution, dual nationals are barred from becoming the member of the assembly. “How can dual nationals be part of the cabinet then,” he asked.
Chaudhry went on to add that currently the problems faced by the government are created by its own members, however, people of the country have pinned high hopes and expectations from the PTI government. agencies
