UK ‘trusts’ Pak passport system
ISLAMABAD
- British High Commissioner to Pakistan Adam Thomson Thursday, showing his
trust on Pakistan’s passport issuance system and its national database and
registration authority (Nadra), ruled out any possibility of slipping of anyone
into the UK as part of Olympics squad on fake visa.“We trust as well as are
satisfied with Pakistan’s passport system and Nadra,” Thomson said while
addressing a press conference at the National Press Club. Commenting on a UK visa
scam story published by British tabloid The Sun, he however, said that no
passport or visa system in the world could be free of errors and that they also
did not claim themselves to be perfect.Denying to specifically tell if The
Sun’s story was true or false, he informed the media persons that the newspaper
management gave them evidence about the scam that had been immediately passed
on to Pakistani authorities. “It is not up to us to make judgment whether the
story is true or false,” said Thomson, adding that he wished that the scam
should reach to its conclusion after thorough investigations.Nevertheless, the
high commissioner maintained that it was impossible to get UK visa, in general,
or to go to London as part of the Olympics squad through illegal means, in
specific. He also said that they have so far found no evidence regarding
travelling of anyone to the UK through fake identity as part of the Olympics
squad.Thomson explained that anyone who had to go to London as part of Olympics
squad had to apply for visa months in advance and all the relevant document and
fingerprints were verified properly. Thomson said that an effective and
foolproof system was in place at UK High Commission to check the forged
documents. He also mentioned that around 4,000 people tried to get the British
passport on fake documents last year but they were caught.But, the high
commissioner said that cases of UK visa seeking on fake documents were highest
in number and Pakistan was the leading country in this regard, as last year
around 40,000 persons were identified by the UK authorities who wanted to get
British visas on fake documents.Thomson further said that the number of
Pakistanis seeking asylum in UK was also highest and Britain and Pakistan were
working together on this issue. Responding to a question, he said that matter
of UK immigration through illegal means had been discussed in his recent
meeting with Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar.Thomson suggested that
Pakistanis interested in getting UK visa should not seek help of unofficial
agents as the system in place at the UK embassy for getting UK visas was very
simple and everyone could contact for assistance.The high commissioner viewed
that that passport and visa scams used to come to light in every country of the
world and one incident did not amount to defamation of the country. He said
that investigating journalism was being done all over the world, including
Pakistan; however, this should have affair approach.
Produce missing persons or face arrests,
CJ tells FC
ISLAMABAD
- The Supreme Court Thursday warned the Frontier Corps (FC) to produce missing
persons or face criminal action and arrest of its personals, nominated in the
FIRs for their alleged involvement in abductions.A three-judge bench – comprising
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and
Justice Jawwad S Khawaja – was hearing a petition filed by the Balochistan Bar
Association over the law and order situation in the province.The chief justice
said over the last three days, they have been asking the authorities concerned
to enforce law in Balochistan but no one is ready to take responsibility. He
said said that they have reached at a stage where everything has been
identified, but now they were giving opportunity to the federal and provincial
governments to act.The chief justice said Balochistan was burning but the
executive was not showing interest in controlling the situation. He said the
provincial and the national lawyers’ bodies were doing the job that the government
should do. He however appreciated the prime minister for constituting another
committee to review the Balochistan situation. The CJ observed that enforcement
of constitution in Balochistan is mandatory to save the democratic
institutions.On Wednesday, the court had sought duly signed joint statement
from the chief secretary, the home secretary and the provincial police chief of
Balochistan and the Frontier Corps (FC) inspector general over the security
situation. During the proceeding, Advocate General Amanullah Kinrani submitted
a joint statement but that was signed only by the chief secretary and the home
secretary. The chief justice said the statement was unsatisfactory and it did
not provide any assurance regarding the recovering of the missing persons. The
CJ asked the advocate general to get the statement signed by FC IG Major
General Obaidullah Khan Khattak and the federal defence secretary as well.
Defence Ministry Director (legal) Commander Shahbaz said the defence secretary,
before signing the statement, has to consult the other ministries, so, it
needed some time.The court directed the advocate general to prepare a
comprehensive report on why the constitution was not being enforced fully and
why the state machinery has failed to control law and order situation in
Balochistan. It further ordered that the report should be duly signed by
secretary of interior, federal defence secretary and FC IG, and must be
produced before the court by July 31. The court observed that FC officials were
nominated in the FIRs regarding the missing persons in Balochistan. But Raja
Muhammad Irshad, the counsel for intelligence agencies, denied it and said that
FC men were not nominated. The chief justice asked the FC to produce the
missing persons, adding that if they failed, the court would order for their
arrest.At the onset of the hearing, Balochistan Advocate General Amanullah
Kinrani apprised the bench that law and order situation in the province has
improved since the Supreme Court took up the issue. He said earlier even an SHO
of a police station would not bother to register cases but now SP level
officers have been suspended over their inaction. He ensured the court to
increase compensation amount to the heirs of the missing person, adding that
Rs557 million have been paid to the families of missing persons from the head
so far.He asked the advocate general as to when the ‘no-go area’ of Dera Bughti
would be opened for general public. Kinrani replied there was no restriction
for the people to go there but they could not move in the area with weapons.
Justice Jawwad S Khawaja recommended that a team comprising Bar members,
journalists and civil society members should visit Dera Bugti for observing the
situation there. The bench adjourned hearing of the case until July 31.
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