ANP shares reservations over dual nationality bill with PM

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The Awami National Party (ANP) has formally explained its opposition on the dual nationality bill on Saturday when the party’s lawmakers met Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf here in Islamabad. In a meeting with the prime minister, the ANP delegation, led by Senator Haji Adeel, shared their stance of not being comfortable over the proposed legislation on dual nationality. Senator Adeel himself described the party’s stance as being based on “principles rather than politics”. “The party considers it a grave threat to the sovereignty of the state if a foreign controversial figure gets into any of the highest offices of the country.”
Earlier in the day, ANP pledged that it would not relent on its opposition to dual nationality bill before dispatching a delegation to President Asif Ali Zardari and the prime minister. During the meeting both the parties agreed not to discuss the bill in either the lower or upper house of parliament. The PM assured the delegation that he would do his best in resolving the issue as it was the first time ANP had strongly disagreed with the government. He also appreciated ANP’s support. Sources added that ANP had also put forth a demand to enhance net hydel profits for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. On the question of allocation of development funds, the prime minister said that parity would be observed in this regard. He underscored the importance of completing the ongoing development schemes. He also assured them that the government would assist ANP financially and technically in the Chashma right bank canal, Lowari Tunnel in Chitral and Munda Dam in Fata keeping in view their importance for agricultural, energy and flood control. The negotiations on the bill has been going on between coalition partners in the central government with MQM strongly supporting the bill while ANP and PML-F opposing it. Earlier, the ANP had proposed some changes in the draft bill which would have made it pretty much different from the way the government wants it to be. The ANP believes that a dual national cannot hold any important public office, including the offices of the president and prime minister, key posts in the military, judiciary, bureaucracy and other sensitive departments.