MQM to back government over law protecting dual nationality

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has reportedly decided to support the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) for enacting a new law protecting parliamentarians holding dual nationalities from being disqualified.

According to the media reports, the two parties reached to an agreement during a telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and MQM chief Altaf Hussain.

It is vital to mention here that President Asif Ali Zardari held a sitting with Altaf Hussain in London on June 29, where they held a discussion over the issue of dual-nationality holders. The recent contact between the premier and MQM chief was following the meeting.

According to the reports, the two parties agreed that an amendment would be added in the electoral laws, permitting dual nationality holders to contest elections.

Earlier, the Supreme Court of Pakistan had disqualified numerous lawmakers including former interior minister Rehman Malik, Farahnaz Ispahani, the wife of former ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani, on the basis of their dual citizenship.

Many political parties opposed the disqualification of parliamentarians on basis of dual nationality. However, the death of any legal protection ensures that these reservations remain unaddressed.

MQM spokesperson Wasey Jalil while speaking to the media confirmed the reports. He stated, “This is our stance and it will not change. We want Pakistanis living abroad and having nationalities of other countries to become eligible for the membership of parliament”.

Quoting Altaf Hussain, the spokesperson said that the talks on the prospective legislation were a positive step. He added, “There is a basic contradiction here. When Pakistanis send billions of dollars in remittances, we admire them. But when they demand a right to be legislators, we respond in the negative”.

According to the reports, some senior lawmakers from Islamabad also confirmed the reports, saying the law ministry was working on a draft of the proposed amendment. The bill is aimed at abolishing the clause of electoral rules that bars dual nationality holders from being a member of parliament.

It is vital to mention here that Raja Pervez Ashraf and Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, the current and former premiers, severely rejected the law, terming it violation of fundamental rights of citizens.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Jul 2 2012. Filed under Pakistan, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.