ISLAMABAD: Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Tuesday said spies cannot come to the country in the guise of diplomats any more. He said the government was putting in place a system to ensure that nobody entered Pakistan without a proper visa and security clearance.
Addressing a press conference here, he said nobody could enter Pakistan without proper documentation under the new online system. He said in the past visas were issued without taking any responsibility, which was a matter of grave concern. The minister recalled that as the leader of the opposition in National Assembly, he repeatedly raised the issue on the floor of the House and pointed out that many foreigners were entering Pakistan and getting visas without any security clearance.
Many persons were arrested on check points in Islamabad, Lahore and other cities but they were later released, he added. Nisar said it was in his notice that at that time many people were allowed to enter Pakistan without visas.
Nisar said the interior minister of the past government never responded to the issues raised by him. Nisar said at that time he stated local administration did not know who lived in about 300-400 houses in Islamabad as the tenants were reluctant to give their identity details.
But when the district administration issued a deadline, all the tenants provided required information, he said. The minister said when the present government came to office, a notification by the PPP prime minister came to his knowledge, according to which an ambassador was allowed to issue visas without any clearance from security agencies.
"I cancelled the notification in 2014 and put in place a system to stop issuance of visas to foreigners without any security clearance. I can say with confidence that malpractices in the visa system have been stopped," he said.
He said fines of Rs90 million were imposed on airlines for bringing in passengers from abroad without documentation, adding these passengers were sent out of Pakistan on the next flight. He said with online system for issuance of visas, if a person will even apply for
visa, his record will be available to the concerned ministry as well as security departments, he explained.
"With a push of the button, we will know who is coming to Pakistan," he added. The minister said the Immigration Department would be separated from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and in principle, the prime minister has given approval for introduction of the new system.
Nisar said diplomats and others were now given visas only after security clearance. Diplomats were being issued visas after proper checks. Similarly, he said, visas were being given after security clearance so that no intelligence or security official could enter Pakistan in guise of a diplomat, he mentioned.
Now visa fees were being charged on reciprocal basis in line with the fees charged by other countries, he added. He said action could not be taken about the past acts as no record of persons who were given visas, was kept by Interior Ministry of the past government. The minister said he had instructed the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to prepare a database of those applying for visas.
Nisar said in only one instance, he allowed a woman to return to Pakistan as she was taken to India by her Muslim husband and later abandoned. The woman was suffering in jail for the last six years along with her child and did not have any documentation but she was allowed to enter Pakistan on compassionate grounds, he added.
The minister said posting of blasphemous material on the social media was going on for a long time. Nisar said he recently arranged a meeting of envoys from the Islamic countries on issue of blasphemy on social media. There was a complete consensus among the diplomats that a united voice should be raised on the issue of blasphemy. The diplomats appreciated the steps taken by the government.
Nisar informed that Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Tariq Fatemi and Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs have written a letter to the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) respectively, which would take up the matter in their next meetings. He told that Facebook responded positively to the government on the issue of blasphemy. The Facebook management wrote to the government of Pakistan that it took the issue seriously and it would send its delegation soon, he said and added in the last few months, 62 websites carrying blasphemous material had been blocked. Of the total, 45 websites had been blocked during the last few days.
The minister said Pakistani envoys would raise the issue with the US government and Justice Department and the United Nations. Such blasphemous content could not be termed as freedom of expression, he added.
To a question about incident of violence committed by lawyers against a policeman on the premises of court in Islamabad, he said a committee formed by him met the lawyers, Registrar of the Islamabad High Court and members of the bar and the issue would be resolved amicably.
Positive response came from all sides and it was assured that action would be taken against those who were responsible for violence against the police official, he said. Nisar said steps would be taken for welfare of labourers of the Pakistan Ordnance Factories.
He said he would welcome PPP Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari if he comes to address a public meeting in his native village Chakri. "I have nothing personal against Asif Zardari but have serious difference of opinion with him." Nisar said Sharjeel Memon remained missing for two years and did not bother to respond to court notices. He is involved in Rs5 billion corruption and should face court of law.
Replying to another question regarding the Constitution Avenue matter, the minister said a committee, to be formed after approval of prime minister and cabinet, would approach victims and ascertain their credibility. Each and every penny of genuine victim would be returned, he concluded.
