Tracking foreigners: MPs press for centralised visa mechanism

National Security Committee directs FO for evolving a clear system to determine ‘status’ of foreigners.

ISLAMABAD:

There should be a ‘one window’ operation at the foreign ministry to issue visas in a centralised mechanism to keep track of all outsiders visiting Pakistan, recommended a parliamentary panel amid growing friction between Islamabad and Washington over the issue.

The Parliamentary Committee on National Security directed the Foreign Office to make arrangements for evolving such a system to avoid ‘confusion’ to determine the ‘status’ of foreigners in Pakistan.

About four months ago, a controversy arose when the country’s diplomatic authorities failed to determine whether an American who shot dead two Pakistanis in Lahore was a diplomat having immunity against trial in local courts for criminal charges.

The meeting, which was chaired by Senator Raza Rabbani, was also attended by members and officials from the relevant ministries.

After the meeting, Rabbani told reporters that the committee had directed the foreign ministry that it should issue visas after proper verification. This move will ensure a transparent mechanism protecting Pakistan’s national interests, he said. In addition, he said that the committee will ask the defence ministry for a briefing regarding Pakistan-US relations in its next meeting and will give its recommendations to the government.

Rabbani said that the committee had asked the interior ministry to provide it with drafts of the Anti-Terrorism Act and National Counter Terrorism Authority Act so that it can overview them. The ministry will also brief the committee regarding the acts, he said.

Rabbani said that the committee recommended that all resolutions passed by the parliament should be implemented. The committee opposed US drone strikes on Pakistani territory as it was against the country’s national integrity.

Sources told The Express Tribune that the committee spent much time questioning State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar on the country’s foreign policy with respect to the US and Afghanistan.

The source said the committee called upon the government to take back control of the Shamsi Airbase from the US. The committee also asked the government to implement its recommendations as well as the resolution unanimously adopted by a joint sitting of parliament on May 13.

The source said that the committee urged the government to redesign the country’s foreign policy with greater emphasis on regionalism and cooperation while suggesting that policy be focused on assisting China expand its role in the region.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2011.