IHC asks interior ministry to explain business visa policy

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday asked about the business visa policy and gave one last chance to the interior ministry to satisfy the court in the case of American blogger Cynthia D Ritchie.

During a hearing of the case, the court restrained the blogger from speaking out against political figures of the country and her lawyer, Imran Feroze, assured the court of not making any statements.

Chief Justice Athar Minallah said in his written order that the order issued by the interior secretary was a confession of issuing work visa to Ritchie against the law. The interior secretary’s decision raised serious questions, the chief justice said.

He added that either the interior ministry was unaware of the visa policy or it had ignored it in the recent case. Laws and policies must be applied in all cases in a non-discriminatory and transparent manner, the chief justice stressed.

The recent decision of the interior secretary contradicted the previous decision. The interior secretary relied solely on Richie’s statement and did not cite any law. The interior ministry could not answer the court’s questions about the secretary’s decision, he noted.

During the hearing, the ministry’s representative was asked what would have happened if Richie made a political statement against the prime minister or any other institution. The ministry representative said that those would be detained and deported.

However, the ministry representative was unable to answer how the petitioner’s case was different. The chief justice said that if the appointed representative of the ministry failed to satisfy the court at the next hearing, the interior secretary would be summoned.

During the hearing, Chief Justice Athar Minallah expressed his displeasure that the interior ministry had not issued a clear order regarding the plea for the deportation of Richie, and asked as to what was the ministry’s policy. No-one cared, if anyone came from abroad and did anything here, he said.

The deputy attorney general informed the court that Richie had stated in a statement before the interior ministry that she was not affiliated with any government agency in Pakistan. However, the chief justice remarked that it had been stated earlier that she was working with the ISPR and the K-P government.

The court questioned whether there would be the same policy if Richie gave the statements against the present government. “If someone else comes tomorrow on a business visa and gives the statements” against the prime minister, would that person be treated in same way.

Chief Justice Athar Minallah, while expressing his displeasure, asked the ministry representative if there was any law or policy. He asked him if the ministry had any documents that could explain the visa policy for foreigners. Further hearing of the case was adjourned till September 22.