ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Monday said legally a person with dual citizenship could not become a member of National Assembly and the Senate, however said that there was no such bar for them to hold any other position.
“In democracy, the status of elected representatives is higher because of the people’s trust in them, however, a government may need non-elected technical experts as their advisers. The practice is common worldwide,” Qureshi said in an interview with a private television channel.
The Cabinet Division on July 18 issued the details of assets and dual nationalities of 20 advisers and special assistants to the prime minister that showed four of his aides having dual nationalities.
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Qureshi mentioned that several non-elected persons in the past rendered their services to governments, however Prime Minister Imran Khan set a precedent of declaring the dual citizenship and financial assets of his advisers and assistants.
“To date, no political party other than the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has adopted such a clear policy to avoid conflict of interests and restrict use of positions for personal or economic gains,” he said.
Qureshi said according to the Constitution, the prime minister can appoint five such advisers, adding that his advisers and technocrats had been appointed as per the law.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) for National Security and Strategic Policy Planning Dr. Moeed Yusuf on Sunday denied various allegations surfacing about his assets and citizenship.
In a statement, he said, “False rumors are being spread against me. I do not have the citizenship of any country except Pakistan. I have already submitted an affidavit to the government of Pakistan regarding my citizenship.”
He added that since assuming his charge as SAPM, he did not visit to the United States.
Moeed said that he was not getting any income from USA neither owned any property worth billions or millions abroad.
