Styled on NADRA: Ombudsman suggests new passport authority

An inquiry finds clear evidence of corrupt practices

ISLAMABAD:

The federal ombudsman has been left with no choice but to recommend the establishment of a new autonomous passport and immigration authority. Due to incessant corruption at all levels in the directorate general of immigration and passports, the federal ombudsman has suggested creation of an authority on the pattern of National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).

The recommendation came hard on the heels of an investigation conducted by an inquiry committee into allegations levelled by many people, including expatriate Pakistanis who faced hardship in obtaining machine readable passports (MRP) during 2012-13. The complainants approached the federal ombudsman due to the extraordinary delay in issuance of travel documents.



According to the federal ombudsman’s annual report for 2013, the inquiry committee was headed by Ejaz Ahmed Qureshi, an adviser at the federal ombudsman secretariat. Qureshi had also served as chief secretary in two provinces and as a federal secretary in Islamabad.

The committee, after its investigation, has recommended five measures for a lasting solution to problems faced by people who need passports.

The committee during its investigation found “a clear evidence of corrupt practices” in the directorate general. It has demanded a thorough probe by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to establish criminality and prosecution of the real culprits.

“The establishment of an autonomous passport and immigration authority on the pattern of National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) would be a durable and feasible solution to eradicate the maladministration in the passport offices,” the second recommendation said .The revenue generated would make it self-sustaining , it added .

To facilitate Pakistani nationals abroad, there need to be arrangements for acquiring of MRP in every foreign country where more than 10,000 overseas Pakistanis reside. This is also included in the recommendations. “The MRP offices should be established in every district headquarters in the country, to be extended to Tehsil headquarters where it is necessary. The success of the proposed measures would be contingent on merit-based selection of professionals at all levels through public service commission, the recommendations concluded.

The annual report said, “It is significant that as a result of cognizance taken by the federal ombudsman on the complaints, the backlog of 800,000 passports was cleared within months.” Since July 2013, there was a marked decline in number of public complaints against the passport issuing offices, it added.

The complainants have alleged that passport officials compelled them to pay bribe to obtain the travel documents in accordance with the prescribed rules and procedure. Those who refused to pay to the officials could not collect their passports.

The then director general of immigration and passport, during the course of investigation, admitted to the allegations of mass corruption levelled by people.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 21^st, 2015.