SC issues notices to officials with dual nationality

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday issued notices to 147 officials with dual nationality, seven foreign nationals and 231 who concealed their wives’ dual nationality.

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Mian Saqib Nisar heard the case related to the dual nationality of the judges and government officials.

During the proceedings, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director General told the court that there were 1,72,000 federal government employees of which information of 144,848 has been proved correct.

The CJP asked how many officials have dual nationality and whether if more information was expected to come in this regard, to which the FIA DG said that provinces have not yet provided complete information.

Justice Saqib Nisar questioned whether the government officials’ restrictions on the dual nationality to which Establishment Secretary said that the government officials have to reveal their wives’ nationality.

He further observed that the Attorney General will inform the court what should be done to the officials with dual citizenship.

The FIA DG informed that court that 616 officials have voluntarily accepted dual nationality and 147 officials hid their dual nationality, while the wives of 231 have dual nationality.

He further informed that seven officials who were foreign nationals to which the CJP asked if a foreign national can do public job to which the FIA DG said that a foreign national cannot do public.

In the previous hearing, the apex court had summoned details of officials with dual nationality.

The court had asked all the secretaries and officials from Grade 17 to Grade 22 to bring their national identity card numbers in the court.

The court gave two weeks time to Director General Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for obtaining more information.