Which other civilised and democratic countries have such rules for their citizens?
LAHORE: The interior minister has announced that very soon every student, journalist and artist travelling to India will be required to obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the interior ministry. The reason given for this patently absurd decision is to protect the national interest of Pakistan and to safeguard its security.
What the minister is saying is against the Constitution of Pakistan, which guarantees the right of free movement to all citizens. Why is this condition being imposed and by whom? Is it by the interior minister or is the ministry being used by other quarters? It is a shame that an elected government, led by a party which claims to speak on behalf of the country’s poor, is taking such antidemocratic decisions and making Pakistan a police state.
Which other civilised and democratic countries have such rules for their citizens?
Engr ST Hussain
Published in The Express Tribune, March 2nd, 2011.
