Punjab Police Officers Get Deadline to Declare Dual Nationality Status

Following the Punjab Inspector General’s orders, all police officers and officials across the province have been directed to submit their dual nationality certificates—whether they hold one or not—by Monday.

City Police Officer (CPO) Syed Khalid Hamdani issued instructions to SPs, SDPOs, SHOs, and heads of key units including the CIA, Investigation Wing, Dolphin Force, Elite Force, and others to comply without delay.

This directive stems from a wider push initiated by IGP Dr. Usman Anwar in May, who had sought complete records of dual nationalities among officers of the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP).

The IGP’s office also requested data on inspectors, legal officers, senior traffic wardens, and other key ranks, including the name of the second country, date of acquisition, and posting details.

The orders were also extended to senior police leadership in the National Highways & Motorway Police, Safe Cities Authority, FIA, Anti-Corruption Department, and various training academies.

According to a senior officer, a notable percentage—between 30 to 40 percent—of Punjab police officials’ families hold citizenship in countries like Canada, the UK, Turkiye, and Malta. The trend is significantly higher in Punjab compared to other provinces.

Officials fear that such dual affiliations could lead to conflicts of interest, especially after retirement, when it becomes easier for officers to relocate if their families already possess foreign citizenship.