Senate panel proposes a strict visa policy for countries that frequently deny entry permit to Pakistani lawmakers. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Senate standing committee on foreign affairs has proposed a strict visa policy for countries that frequently deny entry permit to Pakistani lawmakers.
During Monday’s meeting, a sub-committee comprising three members, Senators Raja Zafarul Haq, Mushahid Hussain Saeed and MQM’s Tahir Hussian Mashhadi was constituted to give its recommendations in consultation with the foreign ministry over a proposed tit-for-tat visa policy.
Formed in the backdrop of recent visa rejections by certain countries, the panel is tasked to frame recommendations for future diplomatic line of action to deal with such incidents.
Last month, Awami Muslim League’s chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, was barred from taking a Canada-bound flight following instructions from US officials to airline and airport staff.
“This issue concerns the entire parliament and more than that, a country. We cannot bear such humiliation of lawmakers or their relatives”, said Senator Haji Adeel.
Similarly, Senator Mushhahid Hussain Saeed said that Pakistan should have also a reciprocal policy to deal with countries that treat us in such a humiliating way.
Besides, the parliamentary panel also expressed reservation over the government’s alleged shift in foreign policy on Syria, fearing that Pakistan could be the next battlefield if it adopts such a policy.
Despite stinging questions raised by Senator Farhatullah Babar over media reports suggesting Pakistan was sending ammunition to Syrian rebels through unofficial channels, foreign ministry officials, including Additional Foreign Secretary (Middle East & Africa), Naela Chohan, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tasnim Aslam, and additional secretary (UN & EC) — remained tightlipped.
“We know your compulsion, but we do expect that you will convey the concerns of parliament to the authorities about the Pakistan’s apparent shift in policy with regards to Syria”, said Babar
Defending government’s stance, Aslam said that government was neither sending troops to Syria nor supplying arms to rebels in the conflict-ridden country.
However, additional foreign secretary Naila Chohan admitted that 10,000 Pakistanis are serving in Bahrain defence services.
Brushing aside speculations over Bahraini monarch’s visit to JSHQ, Chohan said that it is not unusual for the king to visit the Joint Services Headquarters as he holds the portfolio of defence minister.
While responding to questions over a secret visit by US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) chief to Pakistan in February, the foreign office spokesperson said that it was part of routine visit which has very little significance.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 1st, 2014.
COMMENTS (38)
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Who really wants to visit Pakistan???
I wish Pakistan de-emerges from map as soon as possible.
There are indeed foreigners who work and live in this country, would you believe it or not!
Totally agreed.
Pakistani should give tits for tats to foreign counties who reject our lawmakers visas
Oh really! as if foreigners are dying to visit Al-bakistan!! hahaha
Well doing this wont going to effect them, ultimately people of Pakistan will suffer. Today Sheikh Rashid has been denied to enter to Canada and Government is furious about it. Do they actually know how many spouses waiting for their visa for US, Canada and the timeline has been exceeded from 14 months to 33 months. Relationships are breaking, marriages are breaking because of this long wait... solve it in a positive manner. Think about a common man who suffering for no reason.
@unbelievable: Dear unbelievable,, Probably less than 20 people around the world know of Hafiz Saeed. The Mumbai incident is almost history now, there is not the faintest evidence that Saeed was involved, and it sounds like another one of your lets support the US fantasies. If you had suggested David Headley, a CIA operative patsy, I might start believing you.
Pakistan should not worry too much. Just another US bungle. The US diplomatic staff are having trouble in India due to America's mis-handling of the Indian Deputy Consul General's case in New York. Now the US are making similar mistakes with Pakistan. In the last few weeks the Americans have upset the Sub-Continent, China, and Russia due to arrogance and reasonably large amounts of stupidity. That is about half the world's population. The Americans are rapidly running out of people to upset.
Uh Allah, these lawmakers may also think the same way for a common Pakistani.
Anybody associated with Hafiz Saeed is going to get scrutiny .. whether he's an elected Pakistani politician or not. The rest of the World is rightly concerned about terrorism and Saeed's roll in the Mumbai massacre .. maybe it's time you started to show some concern.
When has chest thumping ever benefited Pakistan?
Please for God sake dont call them Law Makers, Please
Now we can hope that they things will go in to some end, as they are going through same pain that we commomen facing since long.
regards,
WHAT ABOUT US, THE PEOPLE?!?! We are humiliated in almost every consulate, the visa fees for Pakistanis are one of the highest in the world and you cannot ever be confident of the outcome! Why do these "lawmakers" in a lawless mess deserve better treatment than me? If anything, I hope they get keep getting insulted and humiliated. Then maybe somebody will wake up to the humiliation we as Pakistanis have to face when travelling anywhere.
What has the world got to loose? It makes their process much easier. Ban you,you ban them. Their mission accomplished no more fanatics people exchanges between countries. They anyway don't want their citizen in Pakistan. When these citizen return they background is checked for suspicious behaviour.
@rahul Common people who go and return are scanned for being potential spies/fanatics/extremist. This move will only help countries make process much easier with less people travel. @peace manger At a time when Pakistan should increase contact and communicate with world, it goes opposite and further isolates itself. How does it benefit Pakistan? They didn't want frog out of the well. Now the frog says same here! Don't want to come out neither would allow you to come in. Way to go.
Wow!
So there is no pain for the common laborer banned from working in Kuwait or members of the public who are refused visa. Such selfish leaders deserve to be banned from all decent countries in the world.
@Jim: You didn't read the article may be!
This will badly affect Oversees Pakistanis. There are hardly any visitors from other country coming to Pakistan ( even foreign nationals of Pakistan origin don't need a visa). Government should try to solve it diplomatically than tit for tat. Oversees Pakistani's are key to Pakistan's success, if they are rejected the visas just because Pakistani lawmakers were not allowed to board would be worst of the decisions by the current government
Ha ha ha! People are lining up all over the world to visit Pakistan and they will be heartbroken!
If you do it for India, we welcome it ..
Welcome Welcome.Now do you realize how a biased system works?
Communication is most effective if you use the same language.
What about the common law abiding citizens of Pakistan? What about their visa rejections? Unlike most "honorable" lawmakers, these professionals, students, workers benefit both Pakistan and the host country.
It is about time our lawmakers started looking beyond their own egos and petty self interests. And frankly, the credibility and standing these parliamentarians have (hordes of tax evaders, proclaimed offenders, fake degree holders), I am not surprised they have a tough time getting visa of any decent, civilized country.
Now they realize how a common Pakistani feels when he is denied access to the basic amenities in our own country which our politicians already have owing to a common man's hardships.But we can't protest.And amazingly neither can they now...:)
"This issue concerns the entire parliament and more than that, a country. We cannot bear such humiliation of lawmakers or their relatives" --- the last three words hit me most !!
hahahaha ! what a nice joke. btw when the last time someone saw an aircraft coming to Pakistan filled with foreigners ?
Ban the entry of Obama and John Kerry in Pakistan. Then only Amreeka will understand.
With politicians such as ours, those countries did the right thing. Atleast now these so called lawmakers should realise as to where they actually stand
Finally Pakistan has decided to act like a sovereign nation !
Who comes up with such pathetic ideas?
I'm all for tit-for-tat... but seriously, what is this supposed to mean?
“This issue concerns the entire parliament and more than that, a country. We cannot bear such humiliation of lawmakers or their relatives”, said Senator Haji Adeel.
humiliation of lawmakers or their relatives?! The only people who matter in this country?
Or is this a willfully distorted report?
wht about comman pakistani. Did they ever thought how many pakistani's face humilation in immigration process. Did they ever thought how many countries we are allowed to get entry visa on arrival.
Be honest to the world and then demand such things.
"Tit-for-tat" is a terrible and incompetent strategy to adopt. Foreign countries have nothing to lose by not having their citizens travel to Pakistan. It would be better to solve this diplomatically with the countries in question.
Nice one... I'd like to see the lawmakers try that - rejecting visas for countries they are refused entry to. For a start the lawmakers are only interested in looking after themselves -how about standing up for the country rather than themselves only and discuss the issues and laws that effect us all everyday rather than the largesse and treating themselves.
frequently deny entry permit to Pakistani lawmakers ..... where is the awam.. common man.... don't you think they you standing for the people of Pakistan?