ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE:
Fresh information indicates that British tabloid The Sun’s undercover “man” in the purported Olympic visa saga could have been able to obtain a Pakistani passport and identity card under the identity of someone with a similar name.
The undercover man, whose name was purportedly ‘Asad Ali’ could have obtained the NIC and passport of one ‘Muhammad Ali Asad’ - who has an entirely different date of birth and place of birth.
While the names are fairly similar, Ali Asad was born in Sahiwal not Lahore.
The Sun had earlier claimed to have broken into a crime ring asserting that by issuing fake passports and visas, Pakistan had given potential terrorists a chance to sneak into Britain along with the country’s Olympic delegation.
Furthermore, the British government denied issuing a visa to ‘Muhammad Ali Asad’ on the days claimed by NADRA and passport authorities, The Express Tribune has learnt.
In its reply to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), however, the UK Border Agency stated: “In response to your fax dated July 25, 2012 … we have a record of a working holiday maker visa being issued to Muhammad Ali Asad, s/o Muhammad Anwar Siddiqui (Date of Birth November 8, 1977). It was issued to passport No J609802 on April 25, 2002; valid until April 25, 2004. [We] have no record of a visa application being made in association with passport No BD1876301.”
UK high commissioner asserts trust in Pakistan
British High Commissioner in Pakistan Adam Thomson assured that the UK trusted Pakistan’s passport issuance system and the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and added there was no evidence of anyone travelling to Britain as part of the Olympic visa scandal.
He said the visa scandal issue was of global significance; however, Britain was satisfied with Pakistan’s visa and passport issuance mechanisms. “We are satisfied with the passport issuance system of NADRA and no country is free of defect,” he stated.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday at the National Press Club (NPC), Thomson said that anyone who was part of the national sports delegation going to take part in UK Olympic had to apply months in advance. “Each and every thing was checked and there was no chance to proceed to the UK on fake documents,” he said.
He accepted that incidents of fake visa seekers were at its high and that last year they found 4,000 fake travelling documents and passports.
He said that every country has visa scam incidents. “We don’t claim to be perfect ourselves of course. There are flaws in passport issuance but it does not mean the whole country is responsible for one incident,’’ he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 27th, 2012.
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How about the false claims by the judges to fraudulently bag multiple plots!
The big tragedy with Pakistan is that it always doesn’t accept its faults although they knew better from inside everything very well.Simply a country where even the assemblies and parliament members come through fake degrees and documentation and fake vote count and corruption. Who enjoys by the elite class of well reputed personals of their societies and who categorically comment no difference between fake and genuine, then how can its impossible a fake passport and visa. A lot of such cases on record in various country visa offices that how many visa applications come with fake documentation, bank statements, academic transcripts, property papers. If someone doesn’t believe please just visa any foreign visa office and check the record honestly. Similarly in various occasions fake FIR, fake degrees, fake medical statements, fake currency, fake equipments and weapons, fake mobile numbers, fake work experience certificates,fake or copied thesis, fake medicines and vaccines, fake uniforms, fake examiner, inspectors and army officer, fake wars, propaganda, fake commercial, fake media anchors, fake clips recording, fake calls, fake govt. servent and many many more fake. This all have been reported and come under observation at different occupations and even on media. Honestly how many people don’t really accept this truth that the above fake business is common business and not happening since long. Then why don’t honestly Pakistan accept their faults and put themselves in the honest and trustworthy ways. Its the fact that Pakistan is the Universal Leader in Fake business, corruption and are big liar.
There is no reason for anyone in world to Trust. They keep saying onething and do contrary and then blame everyone allover world except them.
Only hope was the Judiciary but C.J. is helpless and no one, I repeat noone is backing whole hearedly. Lack of honest intentions.
S.P.Bansal
If some members of parliament in Pakistan file wrong/forged degrees to get qualified for election,then any thing can be expected