PTI govt preparing to allow dual nationals to contest elections

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has decided to make legislation for allowing Pakistanis to contest in the general elections who have dual nationality. The federal government has also decided to hold a session of joint-sitting of the Parliament after 10th of Muharram for passage of two FATF-related bills rejected by the Senate.

The Senate has rejected, "The Anti-Money Laundering (Second) Amendment Bill, 2020" and "The Islamabad Capital Territory Waqf Properties Bill, 2020". According to the sources, the federal cabinet has approved Constitutional amendment in Article 63(1)(c).

They said that the Constitutional Amendment would remove the barrier of dual nationals not being able to contest elections; however, the foreign citizenship would have to be renounced, if the dual national wins the election. The sources said that the proposed amendment states that it would not be necessary to renounce dual citizenship in order to contest elections.

The draft of the amendment will be tabled in the National Assembly in the next few days. According to the sources, the federal government would also summon the session of the National Assembly before holding joint-sitting of the Parliament. They said that during the session of the National Assembly, the government would manage to hold joint-sitting of the Parliament. The Joint-sitting of the Parliament may continue two days only.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020