ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Saturday directed the authorities concerned to set a deadline for dual nationality holders to either rescind their foreign nationalities or resign from their job immediately.

Headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, a three-judge bench of the apex court announced its judgement in a case pertaining to public servants holding dual nationalities.

It directed the authorities to develop criteria and standard operating procedures (SOPs) requiring disclosure of intent to seek such foreign nationalities and permanent residence permits and adopt methods to check such instances and enforce penalties for no-disclosure.

The 52-page long judgment authored by CJP Nisar read: “The acquisition of foreign nationalities and permanent residence permits etc, by citizens during employment in the Government services of autonomous/semi-autonomous statutory bodies/organization and companies etc which are owned/controlled/governed by the Federal and/or Provincial governments, indicates prima facie, and indeed in many cases (but not all) is, an intention to securely dispatch ill-gotten gains procured during service and to relocate their families and themselves during service or retirement. Such individuals deserve no leniency.”

“After determination by the competent authority, such officials must be given a deadline of either rescinding their foreign nationalities obtained during service or resign from service immediately,” ruled the court.

“This is intended to send a strong signal to all officials in the employment of the government of Pakistan at any level that they must not deceive Pakistan by breaking the trust that they have been bestowed upon be virtue of their office,” read the verdict.

The apex court directed the federal and provincial government to amend or make necessary rules and regulations in this regard.

It directed the government to develop criteria and standard operating procedures requiring disclosure of the intent to seek such foreign nationalities and permanent residence permits and adopt methods to check such instances and enforce penalties for no-disclosure.

Such criteria and standard operating procedures could possibly be incorporated into the existing efficiency and discipline rules/regulations etc. by way of amendment or be adopted independently

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