Pakistan: Information on whether a citizen of Pakistan would lose his or her citizenship if he or she acquired Afghan citizenship, and if so how
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 March 1995 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | PAK20174.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Pakistan: Information on whether a citizen of Pakistan would lose his or her citizenship if he or she acquired Afghan citizenship, and if so how, 1 March 1995, PAK20174.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac0648.html [accessed 22 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Article 14 of the 1951 Pakistan Citizenship Act prohibits dual citizenship except in the case of the United Kingdom and other countries "as the Federal government may, by notification in the official Gazette, specify in this behalf."
According to paragraph 14(1) of this act
(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, if any person is a citizen of Pakistan under the provisions of this Act, and is at the same time a citizen or national of any other country, he shall, unless he makes a declaration according to the laws of that other country renouncing his status as citizen or national thereof, cease to be a citizen.
An official of the High Commission for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Ottawa stated during a 21 March 1995 telephone interview that a citizen of Pakistan would lose his or her citizenship if he or she acquires Afghan citizenship. The official added that Pakistan does not have a dual citizenship agreement with Afghanistan (ibid.). An official of the Embassy of Afghanistan in Washington, DC also stated during a 20 March 1995 telephone interview that Pakistan does not have a dual citizenship agreement with Afghanistan.
Response to Information Request ZZZ18004.E of 31 August 1994 quotes a representative of the High Commission for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Ottawa as stating that Pakistan only has dual citizenship agreements with Britain, Canada, Australia and a Scandinavian country.
Specific information on how a citizen of Pakistan would lose his or her citizenship if he or she acquires Afghan citizenship could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find attached the list of additional sources consulted in researching this information request.
References
Embassy of Afghanistan, Washington, DC. 20 March 1995. Telephone interview with official.
High Commission for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Ottawa. 21 March 1995. Telephone interview with official.
Immigration and Refugee Board, Documentation, Information and Research Branch, Ottawa. 31 August 1994. Response to Information Request ZZZ18004.E.
Pakistan. The Pakistan Citizenship Act. 13 April 1951. (UNHCR/REFLEG)
Attachment
Pakistan. The Pakistan Citizenship Act. 13 April 1951. (UNHCR/REFLEG)
Other Sources Consulted
Immigration and Nationality Law and Practice [Croydon, Surrey]. Various issues available at the Documentation Centre.
On-line searches.
