The Pakistan Election Commission has
sought the law ministry's advice on whether it can compel politicians
to reveal details of nationalities they may have acquired while
submitting their nomination papers for elections.
Under existing law, election candidates cannot be asked for such
information, but if the law ministry provides support, a column seeking
such information could be added to the nomination form.When the National Assembly Secretariat was asked about how many lawmakers possessed double nationalities, Public Relations Director General Anjum Mughul said the house did not possess such information.
The National Assembly only kept a brief bio-data of all its members that was voluntarily provided, he said.
"Whenever there is a foreign trip, we make arrangements for parliamentarians' travel documents, including visas. However, certain members prefer taking care of their own travelling arrangements, and in this case we don't know if they carry a foreign passport," the Dawn quoted Mughal, as saying in reply to a question.
It was not their job to be concerned with this information, he said, adding that it was up to the Election Commission to look into such matter.
When a senior election commission official was contacted, he said the commission could do nothing in the absence of a legal bar on parliamentarians holding dual nationalities. ANI
