FO revises policy for officials' foreign visits

The Foreign Ministry issued on Thursday new guidelines for visa issuance and official travels after it emerged that a senior officer of the Senate Secretariat who travelled along with his family on a letter of the Foreign Office applied for political asylum in Europe.

With the approval from Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Foreign Secretary Cyrus Sajjad Qazi detailed the new policy guidelines, in a letter to the National Assembly and the Senate Secretariat.

The guidelines had been issued after Haider Ali, a joint secretary at the Senate Secretariat, was nominated to attend the 148th Session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, from March 23 to 27, 2024.

Ali also obtained a note and letter of introduction from the Senate Secretariat not only for himself but also for his family. Later, he and his family members went to Europe. They did not return to Pakistan, instead, they applied for political asylum.

This act on the part of Ali not only caused national embarrassment but also added to the difficulties already faced by other legal applicants. Following the incident, the Senate Secretariat also initiated departmental action against Ali, who had been made officer on special duty.

In the revised guidelines for the issuance of notes verbales and introductory letters, mandated that diplomatic and official passport holders would be issued a note for official visit after formal applications from the Senate or the National Assembly secretariats.

The guidelines said that the letters of introduction would be subjected to a formal affidavit that the travellers would not seek political asylum in any country. Additionally, family members accompanying officials on private trips would no longer receive introductory letters.