UK journalist deported from Pakistan for ‘violating’ tourist visa rules

LONDON: Pakistan government sources has said that it deported British journalist Charles Glass for “violating” the terms of his visa conditions after he attempted to visit the jailed former premier Imran Khan in Adiala Jail.

Charles Glass, reportedly a friend of Khan, arrived in Islamabad last week and sought permission to visit the former prime minister. However, the government denied his request, according to media reports.

A source in Pakistan Interior Ministry said Charles Glass had obtained visit visa from Pakistan High Commission London and gave affidavit that he was visiting the country as a tourist and meet friends and will not indulge into any journalistic or campaigning activity. The source said: “The author was visiting Pakistan on visit/tourist visa. When a journalist is visiting a country on visit/tourist visa, he is not allowed to engage in journalistic activities. Nevertheless, Glass started journalistic activities which is against media ethics, international norms and procedures. This was the reason for his deportation.”

A source in Pakistan High Commission said the author may have obtained visa from Italy as a tourist and not from London. The source told Geo: “We have no record for him. We have heard he got a tourist visa from Italy. It’s clear Charles Glass broke Pakistani rules. Tourist visas prohibit any form of paid or freelance work, including journalism. Engaging in professional activities without the appropriate visa is considered a violation of immigration and labour laws.”

Interior Ministry sources reported that Glass was detained by police at a residence in Islamabad where he was staying and subsequently escorted to Islamabad airport for deportation.

In a letter to the Ministry of Interior, Charles Glass maintained that he was not allowed to meet Imran Khan despite the court’s order. “I want to meet my friend (Imran Khan) at Adiala jail,” the British journalist added.

In a video, Glass can be heard saying that he was barred from visiting Khan despite his close personal ties with him. The journalist stated that he was in the country as Khan’s friend rather than in any official or activist capacity. In a May article supporting the release of Julian Assange and Imran Khan, Glass had argued that both figures were imprisoned for challenging US interests.

Khan’s sister Aleema Khan posted on X about the incident, “When Mohsin Naqvi has to resort to deporting Imran Khan’s friends visiting from overseas, it speaks volumes about the government’s state of mind and panic. First, their guilt and fear was visible to us in Pakistan. Now, it is evident internationally as well.”

She added that the senior journalist’s visa was also cancelled and the police escorted him to the airport, asking him to leave immediately.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) put out an official statement on X calling it “undeclared martial law” and an effort by the ruling parties, supported by the military, to suppress information about Khan’s detention and his alleged mistreatment.