Real issue is with Pakistan's dual citizenship law which is most often abused.
Military officers and bureaucrats are often the
real masterminds behind this abuse. Let’s call it what it is:
Systemic Abuse of Dual Citizenship by Pakistan’s Deep State & Bureaucracy
While the public blames politicians for corruption (and rightly so), the
establishment and civil bureaucracy operate
far more quietly and
far more effectively when it comes to exploiting
dual nationality loopholes.
Military Officers:
- Retired generals often secure citizenship in Canada, Australia, UK, etc.
- Their wives and children conveniently hold foreign passports while they serve, and use family sponsorship laws to settle abroad.
- Army Housing Societies and Defense Housing Authorities are used as wealth storage units, but the real stash is in London flats and Dubai villas.
Example: Lt Gen Asim Bajwa’s wife owned a string of Papa John’s franchises in the U.S., yet he served at the highest levels of power. And when exposed?
Radio silence.
Bureaucrats:
- Senior civil servants send kids abroad on state funds (foreign “training” programs), who then never return.
- Many bureaucrats acquire second nationality secretly or use their spouse/kids to move family wealth abroad, escaping financial scrutiny.
What Makes It Worse?
- Zero accountability: Unlike elected politicians, military and bureaucrats are shielded under service laws.
- No public asset disclosures are required for generals, brigadiers, or federal secretaries.
- NAB rarely investigates them — and when it does, the cases mysteriously die.
So What Should Be Done?
1. Ban Dual Nationality for ALL State Officials — Civil & Military
No serving or retired army officer, judge, or bureaucrat should be allowed to:
- Hold or apply for dual nationality
- Sponsor family members abroad using foreign PRs/passports
- Own undeclared foreign property
2. Mandatory Public Disclosure
Just like politicians,
senior military and civil officials must be:
- Required to publicly declare all foreign assets and family nationalities
- Investigated if any unexplained transfers or property are found abroad
3. Disqualification for Concealment
Any concealment (like a wife’s foreign passport or child’s offshore property) should lead to
immediate dismissal or court-martial, not just a slap on the wrist.
The Untouchable Class: Generals & Public Servants
You cannot access tax records of serving or retired generals — they are
not publicly available like those of MNAs or MPs. The FBR, NAB, or even courts
rarely summon them, and even if they do,
it’s all in-camera (secret hearings).
This
iron curtain of immunity over the military and civil elite is deliberate — designed to
shield their assets, dual nationality records, and foreign investments.
Why This Is Dangerous
When you let
powerful unelected people (e.g. generals, judges, federal secretaries) accumulate wealth without oversight:
- They send their families abroad while pretending to serve the nation
- They negotiate foreign PR/citizenship deals during or right after service
- They buy assets abroad while in office — and conveniently exit Pakistan upon retirement
This is how a
national asset turns into a national liability. Pakistanis are held hostage by a
military-bureaucratic elite that functions with
zero transparency, zero accountability, and full exit rights. Until we
remove their safety net abroad, we’ll never be able to break this cycle of
looting and fleeing.
Proposed Solution:
Just like corporate CEOs have
cooling-off periods,
public office holders should be legally barred from leaving Pakistan for at least 5 years after retirement, unless:
- They undergo full forensic audit
- Declare all foreign assets of themselves and their families
- Receive clearance from an independent oversight body
This should apply to:
- Military officers (Captain and above)
- Bureaucrats (Grade 20 and above)
- Judges of High Courts and Supreme Court
- DGs and Chairpersons of regulatory bodies (e.g. NAB, FBR, SECP)
Why This Matters:
- Forces them to face consequences if corruption is uncovered post-retirement
- Stops them from vanishing into Dubai or Canada the moment they hang up their boots
- Deters others currently in office from looting with the “escape plan” mindset
Yes, dual nationality restrictions are important. But without a 5-year mandatory stay-back period, it’s meaningless.
In the end...
This isn’t about "dual nationality" alone — it’s about
elite capture,
conflict of interest, and a
culture of escape and immunity. When
your generals retire to Canada, your
bureaucrats buy apartments in Dubai, and
your politicians flee to London, what message does it send?
Serve Pakistan. Loot Pakistan. Flee Pakistan.
That’s the real doctrine of the corrupt elite —
regardless of uniform or suit.