Pakistan to scrap law allowing dual-national overseas Pakistanis to vote

[ziaulislam]

یہ ملک نواز شریف کا ہے ، تم ہو خوا ما خوا اس میں ۔۔

 

[diligence]

From now on no overseas Pakistani should invest in that cursed country starting with disgusting establishment who have not got a clue what they are doing.

You can do that, who care what a retard will do or not. I love my motherland and I'll keep sending money to my dear ones.

Better still.
Sell your assets in Pakistan and repatriate the money to your countries of residence.
There is no future for us, or our coming generations in that country anyway.

You already left the country. So some filth is already out. Why the heck you are trying to lecture others who are still faithful to the nation?

 

[Dalit]

Islamabad: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led ruling alliance is all set to undo the provision introduced by the previous government allowing dual-nationality holder overseas Pakistanis the right of vote.
A bill in this regard was moved in the National Assembly by dissident Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Assembly lawmaker Noor Alam Khan to amend the Elections Act 2017. The bill seeks deletion of the provision that conditionally allows dual nationals to contest elections or vote.

No objection to single nationality holder​

While introducing the bill in the House, Noor Alam Khan said the country’s law did not provide any such right to the dual national overseas Pakistanis who have pledged their allegiance to their host countries.
Noor Alam Khan further said he was not against granting voting rights to overseas Pakistanis with Pakistani citizenship but wanted to withdraw this right from the overseas Pakistanis with dual citizenship.
Former Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, whose Awami Muslim League (AML) is a close ally of the PTI, warned the government of Shehbaz Sharif of serious consequences if the overseas Pakistanis were deprived of their right of vote.
“I would challenge the bill in the Supreme Court of Pakistan and would take the case of the overseas Pakistanis to every forum,” said Sheikh Rashid.
PTI has a strong political base among the overseas Pakistanis and from the day since Imran Khan was voted out of power, overseas Pakistanis in Europe, America and elsewhere have been staging protests and holding rallies in his support.
The Pakistani diaspora is one of the largest immigrant populations in the world and sends remittances worth billions of dollars every month back home. In 2020-21, alone they sent a record $29.4 billion (Dh 108 billion) back home hence playing a leading role in boosting the country’s foreign currency reserves.

Pakistan to scrap law allowing dual-national overseas Pakistanis to vote

Khan’s government in November 2021 had allowed overseas Pakistanis to cast their ballot

gulfnews.com

View attachment 843831

Does this apply for Pakistan born nationals only?

You can do that, who care what a retard will do or not. I love my motherland and I'll keep sending money to my dear ones.



You already left the country. So some filth is already out. Why the heck you are trying to lecture others who are still faithful to the nation?

Don't be so nervous. What will happen will happen anyway. Expect a significant drop in remittances. Expect lesser visits from expats to Pakistan. Expect lesser investment and property acquisition from expats. You just keep supporting the Sharif family.

 

[HAIDER]

یہ ملک نواز شریف کا ہے ، تم ہو خوا ما خوا اس میں ۔۔

Seriously, hate when these so-called Awami leaders exploit local poor people and keep away the educated class. Zardari and the present clan of PPP hate education ...wonder why interior Sindh is still backward and a girl who gets educated become a victim of the feudal lord's lust in many cases.
This PDM ruined the whole system just for the benefit of a few. Imagine over 170 amendments being made in the Pak constitution. Basically, they rape the constitution right and left by PMLN,PPP,JUIF,MQM.....

 

[HydraChess]

I am sorry but i dont get your(moreover overseas Pakistanis) anguish.

You will once you stay outside India.

It's not as if anyone forced them out of India. They went out on there OWN, for some perceived better future towards greener pastures. Abandoning there own homeland and people to there own devices.

One can argue that India did not have opportunity that could utilize their talents or sometimes business realities compel such decisions. World over people move from one country to another for education, business, family and employment reasons. Its so common in Europe that they have made movement across countries as simple as movement within country. Its only here in India (and it seems in Pakistan too) that people frown upon this simple fact of life : One may need to move from one country to another due to any number of different reasons.

And NO they do not abandon their homeland. By forcing them to surrender their passport or stop them from participating in elections, the country is abandoning them.

Also, I support the rule that denies OCI card holders to any sensitive govt post.Because they are not citizens. (Although in special cases it should be allowed). More so in case of Dual citizenship(like Pakistan).

If one lives outside, India, they are unlikely to work for government jobs. OCI restriction goes much much further. One cannot take up ANY govt job on OCI. One can not even own farmland on OCI. Even in doing business, OCI makes it almost impossible to do many business because it bans "research activities". It does not specify what is research activity but officials even deny permit for businesses because they come under "market research".

In case of Pakistan, if overseas Pakistani withdraw their remittance, Pakistan's entire financial system will fall like deck of cards. Currently 1 USD is 180 or so PKR. If that happens, it will be more like 500 to 1000 PKR. Total value of exports of Pakistan in 2019 was 28-30 billion dollars. Remittance alone was 23 billion dollars. Remove that 23 billion dollars and see how fast Pakistan's forex balance goes south.

And it's not as if overseas diaspora sends money to India/Pakistan out of any patriotism or greater good.

Why every thing has to be charity? Its simple this fact: A non resident / dual citizen bring important foreign exchange to a country which is having a negative balance of payment. By turning them away, you are lowering the incentive of these folks to bring more forex in their country. It is not about someone doing favour on someone else.

It is about mutual benefit. Overseas ethnic Indians can bring 100 billion USD worth ADDITIONAL forex (by buying real estate, government bonds, investing in businesses) over what they do currently if they were dual citizens. This alone can make India a trade balanced if not surplus country and allow government of India to get better deals in foreign loans, imports and currency value. This can allow Indian government to have a better handle at inflation in India or absorb oil shocks like what is happening today. All this hoopla over oil prices leading to rise in commodity prices in India can be managed much better. This can be a REAL contribution to daily lives of common Indians, more than anything possible.

Because for me, it's logical to think that a person who can leave his motherland and people for personal/selfish reasons and than pledges loyalty to another country is a big NO. They can again switch sides,they did it before, they can do it again. So they should not have equal opportunities or rights like normal citizens.

Logically, will you like to pay twice for the same amount of wheat or pulses or petrol? NRIs bring about 73 billion in remittance. Take that out and balance of payment will double in negative direction. Price of dollar will increase quite a bit. Oil will get more expensive in India immediately.Inflation shoots up. In that term, they are doing much much more than normal citizens of India, for India. Now logically, who should be be given more rights? They are just asking for some rights.

 

[ziaulislam]

Look around you half of the population is "neutral"
Unless half of this neutral population awakens nothing will change

 

[lastofthepatriots]

So the US gets to dictate the policies of Pakistan but overseas Pakistanis can’t even vote?

Wah baye wah Bajwa, doob maar posri dya.

 

[Chopchop]

You will once you stay outside India.


One can argue that India did not have opportunity that could utilize their talents or sometimes business realities compel such decisions. World over people move from one country to another for education, business, family and employment reasons. Its so common in Europe that they have made movement across countries as simple as movement within country. Its only here in India (and it seems in Pakistan too) that people frown upon this simple fact of life : One may need to move from one country to another due to any number of different reasons.

And NO they do not abandon their homeland. By forcing them to surrender their passport or stop them from participating in elections, the country is abandoning them.


If one lives outside, India, they are unlikely to work for government jobs. OCI restriction goes much much further. One cannot take up ANY govt job on OCI. One can not even own farmland on OCI. Even in doing business, OCI makes it almost impossible to do many business because it bans "research activities". It does not specify what is research activity but officials even deny permit for businesses because they come under "market research".

In case of Pakistan, if overseas Pakistani withdraw their remittance, Pakistan's entire financial system will fall like deck of cards. Currently 1 USD is 180 or so PKR. If that happens, it will be more like 500 to 1000 PKR. Total value of exports of Pakistan in 2019 was 28-30 billion dollars. Remittance alone was 23 billion dollars. Remove that 23 billion dollars and see how fast Pakistan's forex balance goes south.


Why every thing has to be charity? Its simple this fact: A non resident / dual citizen bring important foreign exchange to a country which is having a negative balance of payment. By turning them away, you are lowering the incentive of these folks to bring more forex in their country. It is not about someone doing favour on someone else.

It is about mutual benefit. Overseas ethnic Indians can bring 100 billion USD worth ADDITIONAL forex (by buying real estate, government bonds, investing in businesses) over what they do currently if they were dual citizens. This alone can make India a trade balanced if not surplus country and allow government of India to get better deals in foreign loans, imports and currency value. This can allow Indian government to have a better handle at inflation in India or absorb oil shocks like what is happening today. All this hoopla over oil prices leading to rise in commodity prices in India can be managed much better. This can be a REAL contribution to daily lives of common Indians, more than anything possible.



Logically, will you like to pay twice for the same amount of wheat or pulses or petrol? NRIs bring about 73 billion in remittance. Take that out and balance of payment will double in negative direction. Price of dollar will increase quite a bit. Oil will get more expensive in India immediately.Inflation shoots up. In that term, they are doing much much more than normal citizens of India, for India. Now logically, who should be be given more rights? They are just asking for some rights.

So as per your initial argument,every doctor, engineer, scientist, artist, inventor, researcher, academic,entepreneur should move out of India, because they will get far more and much better opportunities in some faraway developed country then they can ever dream of in the 3rd world India. Right

Well,let me just say, everyone wishes to have a good, successful and comfortable life. But if every Indian had your way of thinking we might have been in a far far worse position, then we are today.
Imagine Kalam, Bhaba, devishetty, radhakrushnan(and many more)migrating to far away developed lands and sending remittance money.

I am glad,Instead of running they did the sacrifice and helped India rise.

Regarding abandonment, one can justify it in anyway he deems fit. But it is what it is.
Leaves his home on his own for his own benefit. Takes the oath of loyalty to someone else. But says he is still loyal to his home. I am sorry but i am having difficulty understanding this loyalty. And no, his words will definitely not carry as much weight as those who are still toiling , despite the derth of opportunity at home.

About OCI, I don't really know the nitty gritty details. But i think it is issued to people born to Indian parents outside of India. So that kid probably already has another nationality(like in US). Dual citizenship is a strict no no, in my opinion. OCI holders should be given opportunity to do business but through citizens. I don't know why any OCI holder even needs farmland to begin with.Its a good decision to not let foreigners(or anyone other then farmers) buy farmland. Otherwise there will be a frenzy of buying and selling of farmlands not to mention the artificial price hike.

And your last point,about money.
I think already made it clear. Overseas Indians send money because they have to.
They would have stopped sending money if they could. But like every other Indian, they too have family obligations.
A overseas Pakistanis are just a fraction of what overseas Indians are but comparatively they send more remittances. Why because most of the overseas Indians have little to no links to India or like I said emigrated there whole families.
The rest send because they have to.
Well, they can still stop sending money.
Wouldn't surprise me a bit. They abandoned there homeland, abandoning family shouldn't be that different.
Lastly, if anyone claims to be a patriot, he should understand one simple thing. It is upon us to raise the nation not the other way. And the nation is today what we the people made it to be.
PS-I don't have any opinion about the Pakistani issue. But i think not giving voting rights, govt posts, sensitive research, to dual citizens is correct decision.

 

[War Thunder]

They can give up other passport if they really love Pakistan.

Iss MAryam ke paltoo bot ko abhi tak mauqa nhi mila.
Aunty bahar ka vis anhi deti aapko? Kitney rate pe biktey ho, given, you have been making new bot accounts every single day for the past two weeks?

 

[HydraChess]

So the US gets to dictate the policies of Pakistan but overseas Pakistanis can’t even vote?

Wah baye wah Bajwa, doob maar posri dya.

Never thought I will agree with you but you sir, are absolutely right on this one.

 

[MultaniGuy]

Islamabad: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led ruling alliance is all set to undo the provision introduced by the previous government allowing dual-nationality holder overseas Pakistanis the right of vote.
A bill in this regard was moved in the National Assembly by dissident Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Assembly lawmaker Noor Alam Khan to amend the Elections Act 2017. The bill seeks deletion of the provision that conditionally allows dual nationals to contest elections or vote.

No objection to single nationality holder​

While introducing the bill in the House, Noor Alam Khan said the country’s law did not provide any such right to the dual national overseas Pakistanis who have pledged their allegiance to their host countries.
Noor Alam Khan further said he was not against granting voting rights to overseas Pakistanis with Pakistani citizenship but wanted to withdraw this right from the overseas Pakistanis with dual citizenship.
Former Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, whose Awami Muslim League (AML) is a close ally of the PTI, warned the government of Shehbaz Sharif of serious consequences if the overseas Pakistanis were deprived of their right of vote.
“I would challenge the bill in the Supreme Court of Pakistan and would take the case of the overseas Pakistanis to every forum,” said Sheikh Rashid.
PTI has a strong political base among the overseas Pakistanis and from the day since Imran Khan was voted out of power, overseas Pakistanis in Europe, America and elsewhere have been staging protests and holding rallies in his support.
The Pakistani diaspora is one of the largest immigrant populations in the world and sends remittances worth billions of dollars every month back home. In 2020-21, alone they sent a record $29.4 billion (Dh 108 billion) back home hence playing a leading role in boosting the country’s foreign currency reserves.

Pakistan to scrap law allowing dual-national overseas Pakistanis to vote

Khan’s government in November 2021 had allowed overseas Pakistanis to cast their ballot

gulfnews.com

View attachment 843831

This guy is kind of stupid.

Dual national Pakistanis sent a lot of remittances back to Pakistan.

They are as Pakistani as those living in Pakistan.


Ha, had those Pakistanis living in Pakistan had the opportunity to go overseas for a higher education they too would have done the same.

 

[HydraChess]

So as per your initial argument,every doctor, engineer, scientist, artist, inventor, researcher, academic,entepreneur should move out of India, because they will get far more and much better opportunities in some faraway developed country then they can ever dream of in the 3rd world India. Right

Let me put it in this way: Those who CAN, they do go outside. Those who cannot, because of family or whatever reason do not. Look at how many Indians apply for PR in Canada or H1B in USA. Its not that hard. Money is very hard to argue against.

But if every Indian had your way of thinking we might have been in a far far worse position, then we are today.

Its not that every Indian does not think this way. Its more of a thing that every Indian does not get a chance. Try getting a work permit in Canada or UK or H1B in USA, you will know how hard it is. Look at rejection rate of L1 and H1B in Hyderabad counslate of USA. That place even has a temple called "Visa Balaji".

No one wakes up and says, I will work for 40,000 rupees a month in a job with no benefits and no safety net against unemployment instead of CDN100K per year with employment insurance, top education programs and quality health care.

I am glad,Instead of running they did the sacrifice and helped India rise.

Actually, its much less of a sacrifice and more of a lack of opportunities or commitments to family.

About OCI, I don't really know the nitty gritty details.

Well, I can see that.

Takes the oath of loyalty to someone else. But says he is still loyal to his home.

Its never "either or". Its like this. I have a chance to decide where next offshore plant will open for my employer: Sri Lanka or India. Where do you think I should nudge it to?

Or if I have money to invest where should I buy more property in India or elsewhere?

Having citizenship influences that.

I think already made it clear. Overseas Indians send money because they have to.

Correct! Right NOW, they send money because they have to. They COULD send MORE money if they were citizens because they COULD WANT to invest if there was a real connection between them and India. India by omitting them is leaving money on table.

They would have stopped sending money if they could. But like every other Indian, they too have family obligations.

On the other hand, they would have invested much more if they have more trust and opportunity to invest in India. Look at Pakistan's expats. They relative to their size, remit more because they have citizenship of Pakistan.

A overseas Pakistanis are just a fraction of what overseas Indians are but comparatively they send more remittances. Why because most of the overseas Indians have little to no links to India or like I said emigrated there whole families.

Overseas Pakistanis have dual nationality: Pakistan's and other country's. Simple.

Lastly, if anyone claims to be a patriot, he should understand one simple thing. It is upon us to raise the nation not the other way. And the nation is today what we the people made it to be.
PS-I don't have any opinion about the Pakistani issue. But i think not giving voting rights, govt posts, sensitive research, to dual citizens is correct decision.

No one settles for less salary because they are patriot. Simple. They settle because they do not have a chance or because they have other obligations.

PS-I don't have any opinion about the Pakistani issue. But i think not giving voting rights, govt posts, sensitive research, to dual citizens is correct decision.

Its a stupid ego driven decision. In case of pakistan its a purely political decision to cut the votes of an opponent. It will hurt Pakistan's financial system a lot.

 

[PakAlp]

If dual nationals are not allowed to vote then why do our Generals after retirement move to foreign lands? Why are leaders always in London and Dubai? Such double standards. If they're are so patriotic then live and die in Pakistan and then apply this on dual nationals. I would understand it then.

 

[Wood]

Issue is not two passports but to minus PTI overseas voters

Smart move by opposition. Imran Khan was wily and tried to tap into his overseas support base. But Imran and the opposition have similar politically motivated partisan motives in this case

 

[HydraChess]

Smart move by opposition. Imran Khan was wily and tried to tap into his overseas support base. But Imran and the opposition have similar politically motivated partisan motives in this case

Its not that smart. If overseas Pakistan start withdrawing their funds held in accounts in Pakistan it will cause a massive financial crisis. Pakistan has a lot of loan to pay in USD. If PKR goes down, those will become much harder to pay back. They import almost all of their medicines, edible oil, fuel etc. IF that 23 billion goes to 5 billion and money held in Pakistan is withdraw, soon enough Pakistani living in Pakistan will have to pay 50,000 PKR for a vial of insulin for instance. You see what happens when financial system of a country goes south, you can look at Sri Lanka. What is standing in between that fate and current situation in Pakistan are overseas Pakistani.

I salute them that during the pandemic year they remitted 17% more. The biggest increase in remittance of any nationality. These narrow political gains can be finally the straw that will break the proverbial camel's back.