ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to introduce a bill in parliament allowing dual nationals to contest elections in the country.
The sub-committee on parliamentary affairs had rejected a proposal to amend Article 63 (1)(c) of the Constitution allowing dual national to contest elections. However, the federal cabinet overruled the decision and send the amendment to the parliamentary affairs ministry for legislation.
Adviser on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan said the candidates will have to hand back their citizenship of the other country before being sworn if they win the general election. However, this will not lose their foreign nationality if they fail to win in the elections.
Babar Awan termed it as a landmark decision and said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had fulfilled the promise made to overseas Pakistanis.
Earlier, a dual national was required to surrender their citizenship of the other country before participating in the elections.
According to Article 63 (1)(c), A person shall be disqualified from being elected or chosen as, and from being, a member of parliament, if they cease to be a citizen of Pakistan, or acquires the citizenship of a foreign state.
In July last year, the federal cabinet had decided to allow overseas Pakistanis to participate in the voting process, and a committee was formed to deliberate over amendments required to allow dual nationals to contest elections.
During the session, the prime minister also directed to remove hurdles in granting the right to vote to overseas Pakistanis.
According to a report released by the government on the completion of two years, the parliamentary affairs ministry was working to ensure the participation of overseas Pakistanis in the electoral process and would introduce a biometric system for this purpose.
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