Political drone attack

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain is generally known for inciting political controversies. He announced last week that he would launch a political drone attack in the country. Many thought he was planning to create another controversy. Pakistani media latched onto this announcement and gave maximum coverage to it.
There were many speculations doing rounds as to what Altaf Hussain is going to announce. Many believed that he is going to announce his return to Pakistan from self-exile in the UK, others thought he would renounce his nationality and they were some who opined that his party will withdraw support from the ruling coalition in the federal government. However, once again political pundits and media men failed to read his mind and he raked up another controversy.
He used his two-hour long speech, which was aired live throughout Pakistan on dozens of TV networks, to justify his dual nationality.
In an attempt to draw a parallel with the founding father of Pakistan Mohammad Ali Jinnah, he said that the Quaid-e-Azam took oath as the first governor-general of Pakistan to remain faithful to British monarch on the eve of Aug. 15, 1947. Those who raise the issue of dual nationality and term all overseas Pakistanis “traitors” is like labeling the Quaid-e-Azam a traitor, as he also held a British passport.
As it is said half knowledge dangerous, MQM leader’s arguments were based on some misunderstanding about the sequence of historical events wherein Jinnah obtained a British passport or he was showing his fealty to the king. Jinnah’s passport was issued in 1946, one year before the birth of Pakistan, therefore, it had to be issued by the British government. What’ wrong with that? Same is applicable for the oath Jinnah took as governor general as per British India’s independence plan. Both the new countries (Pakistan and India) were to remain as domain of British Empire till respective they draw out their constitution and become republic. India was lucky to lay down its constitution within two years of independence and got rid of any reference to the British king. However, Pakistan struggled for another seven years to finalize its first constitution in 1956.
As per 1973 constitution, a dual national can’t hold a public office in Pakistan, therefore, a number of elected assembly members from different political parties were recently forced to resign to meet this requirement. This clause can be thrown out of the constitution with the help of 2/3 majority of the Parliament.
Therefore, it’s far better for MQM to take the constitutional route to amend the dual nationality clause, or better take history lessons to avoid unnecessary controversies. — Masood Khan, Jubail