According to the law, a dual national could not become parliamentarian neither get appointment in defence services nor apply for CSS examination. "I don't say that any judge in the current judiciary have dual nationality but a question arises why the law allow dual national in the judiciary while there is bar in other institutions," said Babar.
He said that the judges have wide range of powers as compared to others, adding that the government accepted ruling of the judiciary by over turning the speaker's ruling and removed an elected prime minister. Another PPP stalwart Saeed Ghani in a carefully worded speech said: "I believe that judges are above suspicion but the law minister should explain that there is no dual national judge in the judiciary."
Babar Awan of PPP informed the house that for judges' appointment, only citizen is written in the constitution and nothing else. According to the law, he added, there is no restriction on judges as far as dual nationality is concerned. The constitution allows president to appoint ad-hock judges if required but such practice was opposed by other stakeholders, he said, adding that the constitutional is completely silent over dual nationality and disqualification of judges. "The government should bring legislation where constitution is completely silent," he pointed out.
Senator Hafiz Hamdullah of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) said that his party will resist dual nationals everywhere. "We will not support dual nationality law if presented in the parliament...if the law restricts MPs from holding dual nationality, why it does not apply on judges," he questioned.
He went on saying that if dual nationals were called half Pakistani, then JUI-F will not accept "eunuchs" in the judiciary. He abruptly explained the word "eunuch", saying that "it [eunuch] means a person neither he nor she so same is the case with dual national if there is any in judiciary". Taking part in the debate, Senator Raza Rabbani of PPP said that constitution just mentioned "Citizenship of Pakistani" for the appointment of judges. However, there should a broad principle that any person who is drawing his/her salary from federal consolidated funds should have not dual nationality, otherwise disqualified.
UPROAR OVER CNG CRISIS Speaking on a calling attention notice, Colonel Tahir Hussain Mashhadi (Retd) of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) said that people across the country were facing great hardship due to CNG shortage. He came down hard on the government for its failure to resolve the price determination mechanism despite the passage of 44 days. He regretted that the ministry of petroleum could not bring down levy on CNG sectors as other sectors like fertiliser, domestic, and industrial sectors.
He said that the government especially petroleum ministry had completely failed to give any guideline to mitigate sufferings of the people. He urged the concerned authorities to devise a formula for CNG prices as per the apex court directives. Mashhadi said that people were facing great problems due to non-provision of CNG to transport sector by CNG stations as well as discrepancy in the prices and volume of gas to different sector like CNG, IPPs, fertilisers and industry.
Speaking on the occasion, Raza Rabbani said the country was under the control of cartels and they were very strong. There were strong cartels in banking, sugar, oil, and fertiliser sectors and government totally failed to break it. There is constitutional provision to break the cartel and ensure provision of standard goods to general people, he said, adding that the government failed in meeting its constitutional duty.
Rabbani said the CNG cartel was challenging the writ of the government. If terrorism cases can be registered against workers, he added, why CNG owners could not be booked under the same law. Chairman Senate Nayyar Bukhari came down hard on adviser to prime minister on petroleum and natural resources Dr Asim Hussain over his failure to resolve the CNG price issue.
The Senate chairman said people had been waiting in long queues for the last fifty days and the adviser had not been able to prepare the price formula. "It is the government not the judiciary, he added, is responsible for determining the price of CNG," he added.
Dr Asim said the government was taking steps to ensure smooth supply of gas to industry and domestic consumers. Responding a calling attention notice he said that total gas production was now at 4 BCF while the country's demand was 8 BCF which was not manageable. He however said that efforts were being made to resolve the matter as early as possible to give relief to common man of the country.
HUNTING LICENSE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Malik Ammad Khan informed the House that 28 hunting licenses were approved by the Prime Minister for the foreign dignitaries from Gulf countries for the hunting season 2010-11. He said these permissions were issued to help improve relations with the leadership of these countries as has been a practice for the past several years. He, however, could not convince the lawmakers who protested over issuance of permits to foreigners for hunting endangered species in the country.
The Senate was also informed that sufficient amount of Urea Fertiliser was available in the country to meet the demand of Rabi season 2012-13. Advisor to Prime Minister on Industries Muhammad Basharrat Raja informed the lawmakers that 1.23 million tons of urea fertiliser and 0.359 million tons of Di-Ammonium Phosphate stock was present in the country. He said 95 percent of the fertiliser was used in the form of urea and DAP. The session was prorogued sine die.