NA Receives Bill to Exclude Dual Nationals from Civil Service

In a significant legislative move, Noor Alam Khan, a lawmaker from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), has submitted a bill to the National Assembly (NA) seeking to bar individuals with dual citizenship from being appointed as government officers. This proposed amendment to the Civil Servants Act, 1973, aims to enhance accountability and ensure the loyalty of public servants.

The proposed bill, titled the “Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2024,” was submitted to the NA Secretariat on Thursday. According to documents obtained by Geo News, the bill targets Section 5 of the existing Civil Servants Act, stipulating that individuals with dual nationality or foreign citizenship should be ineligible for appointment as civil servants.

The amendment reads: “Provided that a civil servant holding dual nationality or citizenship of any foreign country shall not be entitled for appointment.”

MNA Noor Alam Khan has urged the legislature to adopt the proposed laws to ensure the unwavering loyalty of both government servants and judges.

MNA Noor Alam Khan articulated the need for this amendment by emphasizing the importance of national loyalty among government officials. He argued that public servants should have their primary allegiance to the country they serve, holding positions of authority, privilege, and trust within it. This stance aligns with the principles outlined in Article 5 of the Constitution, which mandates loyalty to the state.

In addition to targeting civil servants, Khan’s legislative efforts extend to the judiciary. Earlier in the week, he submitted a Constitutional (Amendment) Bill, 2024, to the NA Secretariat. This bill seeks to amend Articles 177, 193, and 208 of the Constitution, thereby imposing a complete ban on the appointment of judges in the higher judiciary who hold dual nationality.

The draft bill explicitly states that individuals with dual citizenship should not be appointed as judges of the Supreme Court (SC) or High Court (HC). It further aims to prevent foreign nationals from serving as judiciary officers or servants, citing concerns about potential conflicts of interest and divided loyalties.

MNA Noor Alam Khan has urged the legislature to adopt the proposed laws to ensure the unwavering loyalty of both government servants and judges. He stressed that these amendments are necessary to uphold the integrity and sovereignty of the nation, in line with Article 5 of the Constitution.

The introduction of the “Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2024” and the related Constitutional amendments marks a pivotal step towards tightening regulations around dual citizenship among Pakistan’s government officials and judiciary. If passed, these amendments will significantly impact the eligibility criteria for public service positions, reinforcing the principle of undivided national loyalty.