Pakistan's Gilani backs expats’ right to vote
The world has changed, Pakistan Prime Minister says
Islamabad Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has backed the right of expatriate Pakistanis to become voters and members of parliament in Pakistan.
In an interview on a local private TV channel, he said more than 300 councillors, mayors and members of the House of Commons and House of Lords in Britain were Pakistanis.
“There should be a debate on the issue of dual citizenship and parliament should decide on the issue and legislate as the world has changed,” he said.
Dual citizenship
The prime minister said that nowhere in the country’s constitution was it written that Pakistanis could not hold dual citizenship and could not become legislators.
“I am in favour of it that Pakistanis should have right to vote and become members of parliament,” he said.
He said the law and constitution were not made for individuals and one had to look at the situation in the country and the world.
“What will happen if Britain abolishes the citizenship of Lord Nazir Ahmad?” he asked.
Pakistanis all over the world
Gilani said Pakistani citizens all over the world had the right to dual citizenship.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan is currently hearing a petition by an advocate against those members of parliament and provincial assemblies who hold double nationality.
The court this month suspended National Assembly membership of Farahnaz Ispahani holding dual Pakistani and American nationality. She wife of former ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani.
Commenting on the issue of Pakistani doctor Dr Shakeel Afridi who has been jailed for 33 years by a tribal court for aiding a CIA search for Osama Bin Laden last year, Gilani said the doctor has the right to defend himself in higher courts according to the law.
He said Dr Afridi’s actions were wrong, but he should get justice through courts.
About Pakistan-US relations, he said talks were continuing between the two countries on reopening Nato supply lines closed in November after US air attack killed 24 Pakistani soldiers on the border with Afghanistan.
