Overseas Pakistanis welcome dual nationality bill
13 July, 2012
LAHORE: Overseas Pakistanis Forum (OPF) Secretary Ali Abbas Hasanie has said that the dual nationality bill is a step in the right direction to recognise the rights of Pakistanis with dual nationality.
In a statement, Hasanie said that the OPF welcomed the Election Commission of Pakistan decision of granting voting rights to overseas Pakistanis, and wanted that Article 63(1)(c) be amended to allow citizens with dual nationality to take part in election process in the country.
He said that the decision of the government to amend the provision of Article 63(1)(c) will give the right to vote to over four million overseas Pakistanis.
Hasanie has appealed to all political parties to support the bill in parliament because Pakistanis with dual nationality have the same allegiance to Pakistan as any other Pakistani. He said that a "plural allegiance" did not take away or diminish the loyalty of a dual national Pakistani for the country.
He went on to say that there are over 35 countries in the world, including Pakistan, India, UK, US, Canada and France which allow dual nationality to its citizens and most of them also allow them to take part in their elections.
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