NA Committee Backs Dual Citizenship Ban for Bureaucrats

A move to abolish dual citizenship for members of the bureaucracy gained momentum on Monday after the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on the Cabinet Secretariat voted in favour of disqualifying civil servants from holding multiple nationalities and urged that the restriction also be applied to judges.

According to reports, the committee, chaired by Ibrar Ahmed, agreed that senior state officials should be held to the same constitutional standards as parliamentarians. Members maintained that since elected lawmakers are barred from holding dual citizenship, comparable restrictions should govern the civil service.

Committee member Noor Alam Khan questioned why bureaucrats continued to enjoy a privilege denied to legislators, arguing that the rule should be applied uniformly across all public offices. Minister of State Tahira Aurangzeb shared a personal example during deliberations, saying her daughter had renounced Australian citizenship in order to qualify for parliamentary membership.

In response, Cabinet Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal said that if parliament decided to legislate on the matter, the government was ready to move forward with the necessary legal framework. The Establishment Division informed the committee that dual citizenship is recognised in 21 countries, though some individuals go on to acquire additional nationalities. The committee chairman said a final decision on the matter would be taken on February 16.

In a separate discussion, the committee examined a proposal to grant a Rs90,000 travel allowance to federal secretaries. Noor Alam Khan raised objections, pointing out that officers provided with official vehicles are not entitled to travel allowances under existing rules, yet many continue to receive both benefits.

The committee chairman instructed the Cabinet Secretary to ensure strict checks and balances for enforcement of the policy. However, the Secretary of the Cabinet Division opposed eliminating the requirement for officers to submit compliance certificates confirming adherence to the rules.