In a major development, the Election Commission (EC) on Monday decided to implement a law barring dual nationality-holders from being members of parliament after 55 years.
This provision of the constitution would be implemented in all elections including the Senate elections which are likely to be held in March 2012.
After the law is implemented, a large number of dual nationality-holder senators retiring in March 2012, would not be able to contest the elections for the next term.
To take part in the national politics, dual nationality-holders would have no other option but to surrender their foreign nationalities.
Implementation: A spokesman of the EC on Monday said the provision was being implemented from January 4, 2012, the date of coming by-elections on the Senate seat vacated by Azam Khan Swati. A ban on dual nationality-holders for taking part in the elections was part of the country’s 1956 constitution but the EC had no mechanism to check the candidates’ dual nationalities. Now the EC has introduced new forms having a column of number of nationalities a candidate holds. In a statement, Election Commission Secretary Ishtiak Ahmed said all returning officers had been directed to obtain a declaration on oath from anyone filing nomination papers for a seat in parliament or the provincial assemblies.
A senior official of the EC said there were a number of sitting members of parliament who hold dual nationality, but the EC could not take any action against them as it had no mechanism to check their nationality.
Talking to Pakistan Today, former EC secretary Kanwar Dilshad termed this development a milestone in the electoral system of the country. “It is clearly mentioned in our constitution that dual nationality-holders cannot take part in elections but in the absence of any mechanism, dual nationality-holders took part in all elections held in the country so far,” he said.
To a query, the former EC secretary said any citizen could expose current and former parliamentarians having dual nationalities. He said according to election laws any lawmakers could be de-seated and awarded three-years of imprisonment besides disqualification for seven years from national politics for concealing foreign nationality.
Dual nationals can’t contest polls
