WHY TO DOUBT THE DUAL-NATIONALS?

“Can a person be loyal to Pakistan when he has taken oath to be sincere to another country?”

This is the biggest question, rather objection, which is raised against the loyalty of the dual-national Pakistanis. In this respect, the constitutional restriction on them for becoming the member of the parliament is also quoted. 

Apparently, it looks to be quite valid point. However, if this is really the standard due to which the dual-national Pakistanis cannot be treated as Pakistan friendly, then why are the people of Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey, UAE, Saudi Arab and China considered as the friends of Pakistan? Have they taken oath to be loyal to Pakistan? If the war breaks out with any of these countries, Saudi Arab for example, would Arabs fight for Pakistan instead of their own country? No,of course not! Then, who would naturally come forward to serve Pakistan? The non-Pakistani friends or the dual-national by-birth Pakistanis? Can the people of other countries have natural association for this country more than our own overseas Pakistanis? The history proves that these dual-national Pakistanis have been helping out Pakistan whenever it look to them for assistance.

It is also fact that Pakistan receives a huge amount of foreign exchange from the overseas Pakistanis including the dual nationals. But, this very positive aspect is being ignored arguing that the dual nationals send this money to their families, but not to the government for the development of the country. The question is, do the only-Pakistani national businessmen and workers additionally send foreign remittances from abroad to the Pakistani government for this purpose? When no, then what is the difference between the remittances of the non-dual national Pakistanis and the dual nationals overseas Pakistanis? Why to consider some overseas Pakistanis as more sincere in comparison to the others on this basis?   

Moreover, we must not forget that these were the deteriorating economy as well the political victimization due to which hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis had to migrate from Pakistan. Many of them also got the nationality over there for the sake of securing the future of their families. But, it was not the case at all that their patriotism for Pakistan turned into their disloyalty. They are still as loyal to their homeland as any other Pakistani. In fact, the overseas Pakistanis are the ones who give much importance to this country not only because of the reasons that their family, friends, relatives and their unforgettable memories belong to this country, but also due to the fact that they still have the natural association with their motherland.

The opponents need to realize that they are getting biased to their own ethnically, nationally, emotionally and patriotically Pakistani friends and brothers who had to migrate from Pakistan because of the problems that faced here. Instead of the dual-national Pakistanis, the people who economically and politically forced these Pakistanis to migrate from the country should be held responsible for this. Why are the common Pakistanis still facing these problems for last 65 years? Why does anyone not raise questions on the loyalty of the politicians, generals, judges and the bureaucrats for getting involved in corruption, imposing martial laws and unconstitutionally endorsing these illegal and undemocratic acts? If all these administratively powerful people had served the country honestly, sincerely and with loyalty in the light of the vision of the Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, would the poor people face so severe economic, political and law & order problems? 

How ridiculous it seems to be that the loyalty of the overseas Pakistan is being objected by the people who themselves are directly or indirectly responsible for creating the environment causing brain drain? Taking into account all these facts, does it look logical to cast doubt on the patriotism of overseas Pakistanis and disallow them to take part in the elections? It is not sheer injustice at all.

The judgment of the Supreme Court in respect of the dual-nationality has also disappointed the overseas Pakistanis very much. They ask if submitting an incorrect declaration to the Election Commission can not only disqualify them from the membership of the assemblies, but also makes them “Be-Iman” and “Bad-dianat”, then how can the fake degree holders be allowed to be the members of the Parliament? Despite committing the forgery, how can they be considered sagacious, righteous and non-profligate and honest and “amen” in the light of the Articles 63?     

In this context, Mr Altaf Hussain, the Quaid of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) has rightly appealed to the Chief Justice of Pakistan Mr. Justice Iftakhar Muhammad Chaudhry and other judges of the Supreme Court to review their judgment on the issue of dual nationality in the larger interest of the country and the nation. He said that the issue should not be looked from the standpoint of differences between the executive and the judiciary. It should be looked into in a broader perspective.

It appears as if the matter of dual-nationality is being opposed by the anti-government elements just due to the tussle with a few people in the government. In my opinion, we are doing something wrong towards our own overseas Pakistanis just because of the political differences. Whether the overseas Pakistanis are given equal rights like any other Pakistani or not, this issue will surely have its own unavoidable impacts on the future of Pakistan.