Sydney (Sunday, 24th Feb, 2013): Recently formed ‘International Forum of Dual National Pakistanis (IFDNP)’ is holding its first meeting in Sydney today. The prominent members of the Pakistani Community in Sydney, representatives of local branches of major Political Parties in Pakistan and journalists from local media are attending this forum.
The forum is being organised by Syed Atiq ul Hassan who has been living in Australia for the last 25 years. Mr Hassan is internationally known journalist, educationist, author of ‘Australia For Pakistanis’ (published in 2003) and the organiser of mega multicultural event in Australia, ‘Chand Raat Eid Festival’ where thousands of Pakistanis attend every year.
Telling the aims of this forum the organiser of this forum, Syed Atiq ul Hassan, said, ‘if Dual National Pakistanis hold other countries’ nationalities then they should not be discriminated through the unjust law of Citizenship Act of Constitution of Pakistan which says Dual National Pakistanis can vote but cannot contest the election in the electoral process of Pakistan and they cannot serve some key positions of the Country’.
‘Dual national Pakistanis are as much as patriotic and loyal to Pakistan as other Pakistanis. They should be given equal opportunities at all levels to serve Pakistan’.
The demand of this forum is that ‘Dual National Pakistanis should be given same rights including the right to participate in the electoral process of Pakistan and opportunity to serve Pakistan in every field at all levels, same as other Pakistanis holding single Pakistani nationality’.
The plan of this forum is that a campaign through media and protest using all available channels should be launched until the Government of Pakistan makes necessary amendment in the Citizenship Act of Constitution of Pakistan to provide equal rights to Dual National Pakistanis in every field and system of Pakistan.
It is to be noted that until today as per Citizenship Act of the Constitution of Pakistan, Pakistanis can also hold citizenship of sixteen countries namely the United Kingdom, United States, Italy, France, Belgium, Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Ireland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada, Egypt, Jordan and Syria. The dual national Pakistanis can vote in the electoral process but cannot contest in the election at any level of electoral process. Dual national can vote someone but cannot ask for vote from others – this is totally nonsense.
2 Comments
Comments are closed.