Islamabad - At least five CDA officials have dual nationality although the number is most probably higher, sources informed The Nation. They said that only five officials have so far acknowledged having dual nationality. Almost four months ago, a member of the parliament sought details of officers working at the CDA and hold dual nationality. “Repeated reminders were sent to the CDA officers but majority of them did not even bother to answer. Only five officers admitted that they are dual nationals,” said a senior officer of the authority, while talking to The Nation, wishing not to be named.
He said that dual nationals included four officers of basic scale 19 and one officer of grade 18. “All of them hold Canadian nationalities,” he added. Four officers, including Dr Muhammad Fayyaz Lodhi, Muhammad Irfan, Engineer Hafiz Muhammad Ehsanul Haq and Ayaz Ahmed Khan, are working as director [a grade 19 post at the CDA] at different wings of the authority  while one deputy director [a basic scale 18 post] Ashfaq Ahmed Memon hold Canadian nationality. “Ashfaq Ahmed Memon has retired from the CDA in last month,” the official informed.
Earlier, on February 19, 2015, Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice approved a constitutional amendment bill aimed at barring the government officials, judges and armed forces officials to hold dual nationality. The bill was jointly moved by senators belonging to PPP, Syeda Sughra Imam and Raza Rabbani.
Through said bill, amendment has been sought to Article 240 of the Constitution of Pakistan aimed to impose ban on holding of dual nationality by government servants, judges and armed forces personnel. The amendment says, “A person in the Service of Pakistan shall not hold dual nationality or citizenship of any foreign country.” The bill now requires approvals from both the houses of the Parliament before it becomes a law. At the CDA, it is widely believed that a number of officers hold dual nationalities but they seem shy to admit because of a recent debate over the issue started following disqualification of several MPs holding dual nationality.
Talking to The Nation, one of the movers of the bill, Senator Syeda Sughra Imam said the bill was unanimously passed by the senate committee on Law and Justice. She questioned that how can government officials acquire dual nationality, as it either requires long stay at some foreign country, or monetary investment in millions in that country, or special service for that country. She said a dual national government servant cannot be faithful to two different countries at the same time. “Law must be equal for all. As currently only MPs are barred from holding nationality of some other country,” she added.
She viewed dual nationality had been an instrument by the colonial powers to exert influence in decision-making of the country through dual nationals. She said majority of the countries, including neighbouring India did not allow civil servants to be a dual nationals.
When asked about chances of passage of this bill through all due forum prior to its enactment as a law, Imam said, “I and senator Rabbani moved it thinking it is as our responsibility being a legislator. Hopefully, it will get through.”