Action Sought Against Officers Who Hid Dual Nationality
The Establishment Division has moved to take disciplinary action against government officers who failed to declare their dual nationality. The officers dual nationality declarations case now rests with the prime minister, after the division sent a summary to the Prime Minister’s Office seeking approval to start proceedings.
According to sources, the summary covers officers in Grades 20, 21, and 22 who have not submitted the required declarations. Once the prime minister approves, show-cause notices will be issued. Officers found guilty of misconduct could face penalties ranging from withholding of promotion to compulsory retirement or dismissal from service.
Officers dual nationality declarations: most still not filed
The scale of non-compliance is the striking part of the story. Of the 2,917 government officers covered by the process, 62.5 per cent have not submitted declarations on dual nationality. That works out to about 1,823 officers who have filed nothing at all.
Among the roughly 1,094 officers who did submit declarations, only 8.68 per cent disclosed that they hold foreign nationality. That is about 95 officers. The rest of the submissions declared no foreign nationality, which leaves the large unfiled group as the main concern for the Establishment Division.
The officers who failed to submit declarations include officials in Grades 20, 21, and 22. They belong to the Pakistan Administrative Service, the Police Service of Pakistan, the Secretariat Group, and the Office Management Group. These are senior grades, which is why the division is seeking the prime minister’s approval before proceeding rather than acting at departmental level alone.
Officers dual nationality declarations: why the rule matters
Dual nationality rules for civil servants exist so the state knows where its senior officers hold legal ties. A declaration does not by itself end a career, but hiding one is treated as misconduct, because it keeps the government from assessing conflicts of interest and loyalty questions for sensitive posts.
Feature Pakistan reported earlier on tighter employment rules for dual-national bureaucrats, which shows this is not a new concern. The difference now is enforcement: the Establishment Division is moving from collecting declarations to seeking punishment for officers who did not file them.
What happens next follows a set sequence. First, the prime minister must approve the summary. Then show-cause notices will go out, giving each officer a chance to explain the failure to file. Only after that process will penalties be decided, and the range is wide, from a withheld promotion to dismissal.
That sequence matters for fairness as well as discipline. Some officers may have filed late, filed in the wrong channel, or held nationality through a spouse or birth rather than by choice. The show-cause stage is where those explanations will be tested, and the final penalties will show how strictly the government treats non-disclosure compared with actual dual nationality itself.
Frequently asked questions
Who faces action over dual nationality declarations?
Officers in Grades 20, 21, and 22 who failed to submit required dual nationality declarations, across the Pakistan Administrative Service, Police Service of Pakistan, Secretariat Group, and Office Management Group.
How many officers have not filed declarations?
Of 2,917 officers covered, 62.5 per cent, about 1,823 officers, have not submitted declarations.
How many declared a foreign nationality?
Among officers who submitted declarations, 8.68 per cent disclosed foreign nationality, which works out to about 95 officers.
What penalties could follow?
Officers found guilty of misconduct could face withholding of promotion, compulsory retirement, or dismissal from service, after show-cause notices are issued.
