Gilani supports dual citizenship for MPs

Islamabad - Days after the Supreme Court suspended a member of parliament over her dual citizenship, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said he was in favour of expatriate Pakistanis getting right to vote and becoming parliamentarians.There was no restriction on dual citizenship in the constitution, Gilani said.

He pointed out that over 300 councillors, mayors and members of the House of Commons and House of Lords in Britain were Pakistanis, Daily Times reported.

The Pakistani apex court last week suspended Farahnaz Ispahani from the membership of the National Assembly over her dual citizenship as she also hold the US passport.

Ispahani is the wife of former Pakistani ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani and was elected on a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) ticket.

The court said Ispahani did not inform the election commission about her dual citizenship, according to Geo TV.

"There should be a debate on the issue of dual citizenship and parliament should decide on the issue and legislate as the world has changed," Gilani told a private TV channel.

He said Sunday the expatriate Pakistanis should not be deprived of their right to become members of parliament and voters in Pakistan.

The prime minister said nowhere in the constitution was it written that Pakistanis could not hold dual citizenship and could not become legislators and bureaucrats.

"I am in favour of it that Pakistanis should have right to vote and become members of parliament," he said.