Parliamentary panel backs ban on dual citizenship for bureaucrats

A proposal to end dual citizenship for members of the bureaucracy advanced on Monday after the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on the Cabinet Secretariat voted in favour of barring civil servants from holding multiple nationalities and called for the restriction to be extended to judges.

As per reports, the committee, chaired by Ibrar Ahmed, agreed that the same constitutional standard applied to parliamentarians should also apply to senior state functionaries. Members argued that elected representatives are prohibited from holding dual citizenship and that similar limits should govern the civil service.

Committee member Noor Alam Khan questioned why bureaucrats continued to enjoy a privilege denied to lawmakers, arguing that the rule should be uniform across public offices. Minister of State Tahira Aurangzeb cited a personal example during the discussion, noting that her daughter had renounced Australian citizenship to enter parliament.

Responding to the debate, Cabinet Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal said that if parliament chose to legislate on the issue, the government was prepared to proceed with the required lawmaking. The Establishment Division told the committee that while dual citizenship is permitted in 21 countries, some individuals still go on to acquire additional nationalities. The committee chairman said a final decision would be taken on February 16.

Separately, the committee reviewed a proposal to grant a Rs90,000 travel allowance to federal secretaries. Noor Alam Khan questioned the move, noting that officers provided with official vehicles are not entitled to travel allowances under existing rules, yet many receive both.

The committee chairman directed the Cabinet Secretary to ensure effective checks and balances to enforce the policy. However, the Cabinet Division secretary opposed removing the requirement for officers to submit compliance certificates confirming adherence to the rules.