Govt doesn't 'own policy of disappearances', says Nisar

Interior minister announces to establish 14 executive passport offices across the country

The country's top security czar has clarified that the PML-N-led government has never endorsed or used disappearances as unofficial state policy.

"The government does not own the policy of disappearances, nor has it incited such a move or implemented it during the last three-and-half years of its tenure," Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar told reporters after inaugurating a passport executive office in Islamabad on Monday.

Nisar went on to say that he sent a police officer to the recovered professor (Salman Haider) house and inquired after his health. “He [Haider] did not agree to register a report [with the police] but appreciated the interior ministry’s efforts to recover him.”

A lot of work was done [to recover the missing social media activists] during the last two to three weeks.

The five men — who campaigned for human rights and religious freedom — went missing from various cities between January 4 and 7, triggering nationwide protests. No group has claimed responsibility.



US visa ban

Regarding Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman's statement about the possible US visa ban on Pakistan, Nisar said he does not know how Imran Khan related this entire issue with giving or not giving visas [to Pakistanis]. "This is not about issuing or not issuing visa to [citizens of] a country."

The minister added that the ban would not result in eradicating terrorism but increasing the woes who became victims of terrorism. “The move will also cause more criticism at Islam and Muslims while the fact is they have been hit by the worst menace."

Opening new passport offices

Chaudhry Nisar also announced that as many as 14 passport executive centres will be established across the country, saying no district will be without a passport office by March this year.

Nisar further said that National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) had been given the task to establish executive passport offices a year ago.

“We will also set up three mega centres in Quetta, Gujranwala and other cities while more work will be done in this regard by next year.”

These centres, Nisar said, will have qualified staff who will provide quality services to the applicants.

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