Opposition flays PTI-led govt after dual nationalities of PM's aides revealed
July 20, 2020
Members of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Opposition continued to snipe at each other throughout Sunday, a day after the government disclosed details of the assets and nationalities of advisers and special assistants to the prime minister.
On Saturday night, Minister for Information Shibli Faraz had announced that the information is now available for public viewing, in a bid by the government bid to "boost transparency".
He had said that the details have been shared on the Cabinet Division website as instructed by the premier.
It was revealed that four aides — Nadeem Babar, Tania Aidrus, Zulfi Bukhari and Shahzad Syed Qasim — have other nationalities.
Following the disclosure, lawmakers from the Opposition parties tore into the incumbent government and reminded it about previous claims and promises made to the public.
Another U-turn from PTI leadership: Sherry Rehman
Lambasting the government over the series of U-turns in the past, PPP stalwart Senator Sherry Rehman in a video statement questioned how advisers and close aides sitting in the federal cabinet can be dual nationals when members of parliament are not permitted to hold dual citizenship.
"Out of 19 unelected cabinet members, four assistants have dual citizenship. Did the prime minister, despite having this information, make dual nationals part of the constitutional forum?" she asked, while recalling the ruling party's stance in the past on lawmakers holding dual citizenship.
Imran Khan in the past had strongly opposed members with dual citizenship, she said, adding that the prime minister has "taken a U-turn on everything he says".
The PPP senator went on to ask asked whether there was a shortage of capable people in the country and in the PTI for the prime minister to "import ministers from abroad".
Noting that are people with dual citizenships building the government's touted "New Pakistan", Rehman said: "It has been proved that this government has no policy and vision."
Critics have their own properties abroad: Nafisa Shah
Meanwhile, PPP Central Secretary Information Nafisa Shah said that the "selected prime minister" has been exposed after the reality of the advisers came to light yesterday.
"Half of the cabinet members criticising dual citizenship holders have dual citizenship. What action is the incompetent prime minister taking against dual nationals?"
"Those who have taken an oath of allegiance abroad have been imposed on Pakistan under the ruling tenure of this government," Shah lamented, adding that the recent report has vindicated the PPP's concerns.
Referring to Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Security Division and Strategic Policy Planning Moeed Yusuf and the recent piece of information that he has the option of availing permanent residency of the United States, Shah said that "the fact that Yousuf has access to sensitive matters of the country is quite worrisome".
Similarly, she said that Nadeem Babar — who is currently holding the portfolio of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Petroleum Division with the status of Minister of State — owns shares in petroleum companies which is a conflict of interest.
According to the documents released, Babar owns assets worth Rs2.184 billion, including multiple properties in Pakistan as well as foreign destinations. Babar has stakes in over two dozen companies in companies based out of Pakistan.
Dual nationality holders a security risk: Murtaza Wahab
Terming the presence of people with dual nationalities in the federal cabinet a "security risk", Sindh government spokesperson Murtaza Wahab said that "the makers of Naya Pakistan" have included consultants from abroad in the cabinet.
Underscoring that the constitution does not allow people with dual citizenship to become members of the cabinet and parliament, Wahab said that the access of people with foreign citizenship to sensitive information is a serious matter and the prime minister has "committed a crime" by including dual nationals in the cabinet.
"Prime Minister Niazi [Imran Khan], like every other problem, took a U-turn on this issue," he added.
How can a foreign national be part of the cabinet?: Khawaja Asif
PML-N stalwart Khawaja Asif said that the federal cabinet is always a product of the parliament and rules regarding dual nationalities are applicable to both.
"If a foreign national can't be member of the parliament, how can he/she be a member of the cabinet?" he asked.
A government of guest actors who will flee the country: Ahsan Iqbal
PML-N general secretary Ahsan Iqbal called the government "guest actors who will sink the country's economy, take out their green cards and British passports, grab a flight and flee the country".
"They sit in the cabinet meetings and have not even been sworn to secrecy," he added.
After Zulfikar Bukhari responded to the above tweet, Iqbal wrote back saying: "We all took oath of office. Did you? None held foreign nationality. You hold foreign nationality and have [the] cheek to question our Pakistani status? My iqama was in capacity as Member Global Academic Advisory Committee of Madinah Inst of Leadership & Entre (MILE), an honorary position."
Duplicity destroying nation: Marriyum Aurangzeb
Criticising the government for including dual nationality holders in the cabinet, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb lashed out saying that foreign nationality holders should not be decision-makers.
Taking her reproval to Twitter, the PML-N lawmaker shared a clip of the prime minister where he is asserting that dual nationality holders should not be included in the government.
The PML-N leader also quoted prime minister's early statements where he said that if a lawmaker owns a foreign passport, he or she should not be allowed to sit in the Assembly.
"His hypocrisy is shameless as his duplicity is destroying a nation. All Imran Khan is missing is a flute," she said, in a possible reference to the legend of the Pied Piper of Hamelin.
Add them to the ECL: Ataullah Tarar
In this regard, Deputy Secretary-General PML-N Attaullah Tarar demanded that the names of lawmakers who hold dual citizenship be added to the Exit Control List (ECL).
"Yesterday, a drama was staged and dust was thrown in the eyes of the people. If these people flee to any country tomorrow, who will be responsible?"
Chastising the prime minister's earlier stance, Tarar said: "Imran Khan used to say that the presence of dual nationals in the cabinet leads to the country being looted."
The PML-N leader went on to add that the projects initiated by the former chief minister Shehbaz Sharif are given credit under the name of the current chief minister of Punjab, Usman Buzdar.
"The person who has been declared as Wasim Akram [while referring to Usman Buzdar] is bent on getting his players out. Usman Bazdar is changing ministers and advisers every day," Tarrar criticised.
"You said that people from abroad would come to Pakistan to get jobs. They are sitting in your very Cabinet," he added.
PTI responds
As criticism continued to mount well into the day, members of the PTI began to respond to the "shameful" tactics employed by the Opposition and the "lies" being spread.
Zulfi Bukhari
Zulfi Bukhari, the aide on overseas Pakistanis and human development, listed all the PML-N members who have a foreign work permit and said: "For those pointing fingers, koi sharam koi haya (do you have any shame, any dignity)?"
In a subsequent post, in response to Ahsan Iqbal saying that he only held an honorary position, Bukhari said: "You can stop trying to fool people. No iqama gets bestowed for a honourary position."
"We all know you were born here but got iqama to move ill-gotten wealth out of country easily. Stop comparing it with people who were born and grew up dual-nationals but chose to come back and serve," he added.
Moeed Yusuf
Meanwhile, Moeed Yusuf, the aide on national security, said that "contrary to the canard being spread" about him, he holds a citizenship of Pakistan alone.
He shared a copy of the affidavit he submitted to the government, declaring he does not hold any other citizenship.
"I have not returned to the US since I took up my current responsibility, have no employment or income in the US. Nor do I have any millions worth properties abroad as is being insinuated. I or my family have NO fixed property anywhere but Pakistan. Stop spreading lies," he wrote.
Shahbaz Gill
Shahbaz Gill, the aide on political communication, in response to erroneous reporting whereby his US residency was mistakenly taken for US citizenship, said that he is "only a Pakistani citizen and I hold no citizenship of any other country".
"I only have a Pakistani passport, no other passport," he added.
Shahzad Akbar
Shahzad Akbar, the aide on accountability, in Geo News show "Naya Pakistan", said that the prime minister had "set an example" by having special assistants declare their assets and nationalities.
He said that a special assistant does not have executive powers and all decisions made by the cabinet are only signed off on by elected members to the parliament.
Akbar said that a special assistant "gives advice only".
Speaking more on cabinet meetings, he said that special assistants cannot sit in such meetings and only attend if invited.
Akbar said that the prime minister is adamant that no person with a dual nationality be part of the National Assembly. He said that this could only be changed through a constitutional amendment.
Taking a jab at Khawaja Asif, he said it was a serious matter for a (former) defense minister to have had a UAE work permit and a Rs2 million salary from a Dubai company.
Imran Ismail
Imran Ismail, the Sindh governor, chimed in to say that the prime minister asked for voluntary declarations of assets; there was no written law requiring the same.
"The surprising thing is that those criticising us today do not go to their own leaders and ask them [about their assets]. They would not dare. Nawaz Sharif's family could not declare their assets to date or their sources of funds," he said.
Ismail went on to say he hopes that "other parties will also declare assets". "They must at least have the moral courtesy to do this before criticising others."
"Imran Khan's cabinet is an excellent selection. There are neither any thieves or any robbers. An honest prime minister has a trustworthy cabinet," he added.
