Petition filed in Supreme Court for disqualification of 8 aides, ministers and advisers to PM with dual citizenship

ISLAMABAD (12-Aug-2020) The Supreme Court (SC) has declared the appointment of Special Assistants to the Prime Minister with dual citizenship and an adviser to the Prime Minister as illegal and unconstitutional and to appoint them to the required posts. Has been re-applied for withdrawal. The petition is an appeal against the Islamabad High Court's July 30 rejection of the petition. The appeal was filed by advocate Malik Munsif Awan through his lawyer Muhammad Ikram Chaudhry, who had challenged the appointments in the High Court.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Nadeem Babar, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Trade Abdul Razzaq Dawood, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Power Division Shehzad Qasim, Special Assistant to Overseas Pakistan Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari (Zulfi Bukhari), Assistant to the Prime Minister. Special Assistant for Political Affairs Shahbaz Gul, Special Assistant for National Security Moeed Yousaf and Special Assistant for Parliamentary Liaison Nadeem Afzal Gondal.

In its judgment, the High Court had held that the prime minister is the chief executive of one of the most important pillars of the state and he has to perform a number of "complex duties" and he cannot play the role of prime minister under the constitution alone. He said that in order to enable the Prime Minister to act as the executive of the state, he should have the freedom to appoint officials or other persons to assist him. The High Court had said that there is no restriction on the appointment of persons with dual citizenship, the only restriction provided in the Constitution is under Article 63 (1) (c) and that it is for persons elected or elected to Parliament. Is limited to disqualification.

The appeal filed in the Supreme Court argued that the Cabinet Division had recently released details of assets and dual citizenship of 20 special advisers and special assistants. The petition expressed surprise that when so many enemies are trying to seize Pakistan's nuclear assets, no foreign nationals are concerned about national security, economy, digitization and planning, future prospects, political and parliamentary affairs. How to expect impartial and honest advice on matters.

The appeal questioned the mechanism set up to investigate the alleged theft of sensitive information by individuals who have taken an oath of allegiance from other countries and are being held accountable for the country's nuclear assets as well as the country's development and economy. Also have access to sensitive information. The petition argues that the appointment of these foreign nationals is also tantamount to an oath taken by the Prime Minister for his office, which embodies loyalty to Pakistan. The petition states that in order to secure sensitive information, It has become necessary to remove foreign nationals from important positions.