Documents for issuance of Altaf's passport, ID card not yet provided: FO

Spokesperson says MQM chief has not yet contacted the Pakistani government for any assistance.

ISLAMABAD: The required documents for the issuance of a passport and a national identity card to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain have not been provided yet, the Foreign Office said on Friday.

While briefing the media, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said that as soon as the required documents are received, their processing will be initiated.

While briefing the media on Friday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasnim Aslam elaborated that "the procedure is that in exceptional cases, for National Identity Card Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP), a team can visit the applicant and take details but for the passport the applicant has to go to the High Commission. This was conveyed to Mr. Altaf Hussain about two to three weeks back. Whenever, Mr. Altaf Hussain is ready to complete the process, these documents will be processed accordingly."

She added that the government is ready to extend all possible legal assistance to the MQM chief, who was arrested by the London police on Tuesday  suspicions of money-laundering.

Aslam said that Altaf had not yet contacted the Pakistani government for any assistance, and added that the government did not know details of the charges against the MQM chief.

The spokesperson reasserted that the Foreign Office would act according to the directions of the government in case Altaf wanted any assistance or intended to return to Pakistan.