Officials told to quit job or second nationality

LAHORE — The Supreme Court has asked the federal and provincial governments to set deadlines for dual national officials to either give up their jobs or the second nationality.

A bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, passed the directions while announcing a reserved verdict regarding dual nationality of government officials.

The court held that in majority of cases, apparently the acquisition of foreign nationalities during service was aimed to securely dispatch illgotten gains and relocate their families or themselves during service or after retirement. Such individuals deserved no leniency, it added.

The court said it was intended to send a strong signal to all government officials that they must not deceive the country by breaking the

trust that they have been bestowed upon by virtue of their office.

Rules/regulations in that regard might be amended by the federal and provincial governments, preferably in conjunction with each other, the court observed.

In its 52-page judgement, the bench also gave various proposals to the federal and provincial governments

and parliament regarding appointment of dual nationality holders as officials.

The court asked the governments to consider formulation of negative lists of posts, where citizens holding dual nationality or married to dual nationals, should not be appointed to protect national interest, except for with the permission of the respective cabinets or organisations.

The court asked for placing the list of dual nationals or married to dual nationality holders and posts held by them, before parliament, governments or organisations at the end of each financial year.

The court asked the federal and provincial governments to consider imposing a complete ban on employment of foreigners/ non-citizens (of Pakistani or non-Pakistani origin) in the government service.

The court also asked the governments to develop criteria regarding employment of non-citizens in government service, where relaxation from general prohibition was necessary in the public interest, besides preparation of negative lists of posts in this regard.