UK visa scam: British High Commission backs The Sun’s claims
The report said that Ali Asad came to Pakistan on a British passport and managed to get a fake CNIC and a machine-readable Pakistani passport on the specifics of “Mohammad Ali Asad”.
According to the British High Commission’s record, Ali Asad’s real date of birth is December 8, 1980, while Mohammad Ali Asad’s date of birth was mentioned as November 8, 1970. Similarly, Ali Asad’s residence was Sahiwal as opposed to Mohammad Ali Asad’s address in Lahore.
The report also claimed that the pictures made available by the British High Commission included one of Ali Asad and two of Mohammad Ali Asad.
On Thursday, British High Commissioner to Pakistan Adam Thomson had said that he trusted Pakistan’s passport issuance system and Nadra, adding that the country is free of defects.
British tabloid The Sun had earlier claimed to have broken into a crime ring which was issuing fake passports and visas, giving potential terrorists a chance to sneak into London Olympics 2012.
COMMENTS (61)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@Polpot:
You need help (like your psycopathic namesake). And all the '++++' decorations do not detract from the seemingly endless poisonous vitriol that you keep spewing out in these columns. Please get a life (and a new passport).
"Genuine Pakistani passport holders will find it harder and harder to travel in the future" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ To whom we want to punish we will give a Pakistani Passport.
"UK visa scam: British High Commission backs The Sun’s claims" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Et tu Brutus?
It is not difficult to get British and Australian passport, some time ago people from Mossad have travelled to dubail on these passports and involved in terrorist activity by killing one person in Dubai. So it means criminal activities can be carried out by any one even ambessidors are not an exception.
@Maverick: @Hegdefunder:
"Which great country men ? I live in UK and have done so for past 50 years ! So what is the relevance of this to the current topic of debate ?"
An Indian with a fake British passport who’s managed to live for the past 50 years in the UK without being detected!
obtaining passport is one thing and obtaining visa is another! Why does the High Commissioner not understand it? At our part its a lapse that we issued a wrong person the passport but its as much a fault for British embassy to provide visa on the same passport (apparently the forgers also arranged for a visa which was valid!)
Also Mr. High Commissioner should be reminded of the Dubai incident where Israeli agents used forged british passports to assassinate someone, not so long ago. Wasn't that a lapse Sir?
@Lala Gee: Please consider HOW LONG AGO the incidents you recount happened, and do not equate security measures BACK THEN WITH THOSE THAT EXIST NOW! As a result, your examples have no bearing on the argument you are failing to make!
@gp65 I find it quite unbelieveable how some contributors to this forum completely pervert what is so blatently scribed in black and white! The report which you have refered to unequivically says "...59% of Indian students are bogus...". I don't think it is rocket science to realise what they are saying, 59% of Indians acquire visas incorrectly - which by default would mean illegally - SIMPLE! Further, the article, which should be read with a handful of salt given its reported by the not so neutral Indo News Service, makes no mention of extension of visas etc - where did you get that fantastic idea from? Again and again I can't believe how news is so selectively and inaccurately portrayed... Guys (or girls), please do us all a favour and come forth with a decent, honourable and honest account of facts - this isn't Bollywood where the audience has no say, this is the real world and yes, its horrible and ugly!
@Hegdefunder: do you have any evidence or it is just a blame game
If some body thing that passport fraud occurs only in Pakistan he or she should read the link below.It is another attempt to defame Pakistan. All kind of frauds are happening in India and other countries including EU.If these frauds are not high lighted in Western press hart doesn't mean that these countries have foolproof mechanism.and what about the banking scam in the West and US were these not fraud that brought such a misery to the whole world.
Unhappy with Israel, EU condemns Dubai killing | Reuters www.reuters.com/.../us-emirates-assassination-idUSTRE61L2F52010..
@Umar: "@Mr S:
Thank you and here is a link http://in.news.yahoo.com/59-percent-indian-students-britain-fake-report-090732133.html"
This report is not by a British border agency as claimed by Mr. S. Rather it is by a partisan anti-immgrant lobbying group. Also it does not say that the Indian students stay after visa is over (which is illegal) - rather it says that they try to extend their stay in the country (which is perfectly legal).
@Maverick: Are you a managing owner or a shareholder of this publishing house ? If not, i suggest you keep your opinions to yourself ! As this is an open platform for debate & discussions ! Get it ? Can't stand the heat ? Then get out of Kitchen !
@hedgefunderkabaap: @Hegdefunder:
Your incessant anti-Pakistan rants belie your Indian roots. One wonders why ET allows @Hedgefunder to use its platform to constantly berate Pakistan and anything Pakistani. Tedious and boring. The space in these columns would be better utilised by evoking a sensible debate about real issues, instead of this constant diatribe of negative comments.
Pathetic.
Nadra has to be defended.
It is one of the many places where good people get job after retirement.
How can we put their jobs on the line?
@Lala Gee: The GOP must not let him off the hook and file a police report in the UK against him and try to repatriate him to Pakistan for trial
Yes ! brave words with plenty of Ghairat too ! Sadly Pakistan does not have extradition treaty with UK ! Trust me, UK has been after this for long time as there are too many Criminals who have commited far more serious crimes like Rape, Murders, Kidnapping etc in Uk, who are residing in Pakistan, because of this very fact !
The guy has committed a serious crime and violated the Pakistan's laws punishable by imprisonment and heavy fines. The GOP must not let him off the hook and file a police report in the UK against him and try to repatriate him to Pakistan for trial; and that is not possible then must pursue legal action in the UK. The Foreign Office must also call the UK High Commissioner and lodge a protest against the crime committed by a British citizen purely for the purposes of maligning and giving bad publicity to Pakistan.
Getting a fake British passport/travel document is also a snap in UK. I am myself a witness to someone getting British "Temporary Passport" in just one day on a fake "birth certificate". That guy also traveled on the same fake "Temporary Passport" to another European country (by then EU did not exist) and came back to UK. He went through immigration 4 times in this round trip but escaped undetected. Another glorious example of the quality of security checks at UK airports is my personal experience when I carried two big 10 inches long cutlery knifes all along from Pakistan to Dubai, Dubai to UK, then from UK to Canada in my hand baggage and no one cared about, though it was before the incident of 9/11.
@Mr S:
Thank you and here is a link http://in.news.yahoo.com/59-percent-indian-students-britain-fake-report-090732133.html
@Babloo Clean up your own house before pointing fingers at others. I would like the High commissioner in Pakistan to back his statements with some facts !
lol @ Indians...did they forget that UK official border Agency control releases details regarding Indians three days back that more then 60% of the Indians on student visa are fake and tends to live in UK even after their visa is expired
@Umar, saying every country has corruption is like saying "Every human being is a sinner and no one is perfect" , so there is no difference between Osama, Hafeez Saeed, LeT terrorists, Zakir Lakhvi, Kasav and mother Teresa. The reason why Pakistan is perhaps the most corrupt , is because elements of the state itself are complicit in it. Who provided fraudulent passport and NIC to Mr Ansari , who was deported by Saudi Arabia to India, overriding protests by Pakistan ? The state itself. Today the British High commisioner to Pakistan, termed Pakistan as the "Global Leader" in forged documents. You can google that news. Not just fraudulent documents, its a global leader in forged currency too, and with active support from elements of the state.
@The Truth:
Yawn..........
@Babloo:
And you have credible evidence of that, other than news paper clippings ?
I am not suggesting that Pakistan does not have corruption, far from it, it is plagued with corruption, however sweeping statements like yours are nonsense.
@hedgefunder - seems like you're back trying to improve your portfolio of ET posts.
Generally speaking, with rare exceptions, anyone or any country, dealing or doing any business with the state of Pakistan, will be defrauded. No one has yet found a defraud-proof-method against the Pakistan state. As simple as that.
@Altaf Hussain, Mumbai:
I am British Citizen my self, and at no point did I suggest that a British citizen needs to have a visa. I am contending there is no proof that he used the Pakistani passport to go through immigration. He could have easily used his British passport despite leaving Pakistan on his Pakistani passport.
I suggest you put your glasses on and read my comments again !
A few points:
Pakistanis at large would be very well served by getting out of the denial mentality. The Passport and CNIC agents that lurk around the respective offices actually are part of a mafia that has connections with the agency officials and pay them a share for making fake documents. Most people know that. The problem could be solved by have a very strict enforcement regime. But then that is the problem all around. Case in Point: The Supreme Court was trying to enforce its orders in the NRO case. And the ENTIRE government (PPP) and most of the liberal media has come together in one voice and starting to put tremendous pressure on the Court, "... Well they should NOT send ANOTHER Prime Minister home!" Fully realizing that Constitution and Law must reign supreme under ALL circumstances; things will only turn for the better IF and only IF, the people at large realize that. A separate issue is that foreign reporters or others must NEVER be allowed to conduct ILLEGAL actions with impunity. The so-called "sting" was still a clear-cut violation of Pakistani Law and the government of Pakistan should pursue the issue with the British government, plus they also have a case against The Sun. To come to a country and conspire with the criminal/underground element to get a fake passport can happen ANYWHERE in the WORLD. Some self-righteous foreign "friends" who are so arrogantly commenting in this forum should realize that point. You can get a fake passport through criminal channels and enough money just about ANYWHERE in the world, not just PAKISTAN.
@Hari: i know there must be something wrong somewhere but i am not bother about what TOI is saying, after all its just another piece of cake for TOI to celebrate on.
Just a small question, do you people really believe all this? My opinion is yes because i remember an indian guy who met me on my way from oslo to stockholm and he believed that everyone in pakistan even doctors and engineers are terrorist.
@Maverick: Which great country men ? I live in UK and have done so for past 50 years ! So what is the relevance of this to the current topic of debate ?
@Umar: You seem to be walking with blinds on. Sir, please realise that British citizens do NOT need a UK visa (fake or otherwise) to enter their own country. What kind of trash are you talking, blaming the UK Immigration Dept. for letting the journalist in? Who told you that he entered UK using a Pakistani Passport?
@Hegdefunder:
This is the 'venerable' Sun newspaper which epitomises gutter journalism in Britain and part of none other than Rupert Murdoch's tawdry empire which specialises in phone hacking! What credibility do they have?
Read what this great newspaper has to say about your countrymen who have illegally entered the UK
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4260813/Penniless-illegal-but-UK-wont-let-immigrants-leave.html
Is anyone really surprised ---- the writing was on the wall when you decided to form a Commission to file a lawsuit rather than pick up the phone and hire a UK attorney. It's unfortunate but Pakistan's shortcomings once again have impact beyond your borders.
@naeem khan Mahnattan,Ks:
Could not agree more on that. Specially the last sentence.
Why should we blame the ordinary people who are trying to make a buck and sustain themselves by driving MBZs and BMWs and living the life they can't afford, all they are doing is emulating their leadership, thats all. The rot has started from the top and they flaunt the ill gotten money by buying properties all over the Western Countries. So lay off of these crooks,it is just plan hypocrisy, remember NRO, Drug peddling, Rental Raja,Bloated Cabinet, Bribes to Judiciary, Perks and Privileges and above negating the laws of the nation. Keep it up and you people won't have anything left to siphon anymore.
@mr. righty rightist:
Sorry you are wrong on both counts.
It is the duty of the british Visa issuing authority to ensure that they issue visas to the correct person. Anyone who has ever applied for a visa should know how many hoops they need to jump through.
It is more so there duty to make sure anyone one entring the country is not a threat to their security and did not attain a visa under false pretense. That is why they question people at immigration in London before letting them enter the country even when they have valid visas.
They even retain the right to refuse entry even if all your paper work including visa is good order.
Finally if the British press wants to do a sting operation, why do they not focus on the failures of their own government machinery instead of trying yet again to malign Pakistan.
The first Gold Medal of Olympics 2012 goes to..who else but Pakistan...and the category is..........fastest fake visa delivery@Babar What are talking about. Hurt pride that UK tabloid caught us with our pants down. I wish our newspapers would do these sting operations. Nothing would give me so much pleasure than seeing these corrupt politicians and officials nabbed.
Come on Man!! I have lived in UK for long enough now to know at least ten times more corruption/visa scams are taking place by other countries' men. Highlighting and tainting Pakistan only goes on to show The mentalityy of The Sun. Of course they cant write about all the illegal Indian and Chinese and Bengalis living here who are way more in numbers than Pakistanis could ever be. No word about them. its our weak national integrity that everyone is able to throw mud on us, even ruffians like The Sun. And I am NOT defending what the Pakistanis are doing or did in this particular story. WE just have nt got a strong marketing ability. That shows.
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 visit 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 is big liar.
@Umar who writes
"He gets a Visa from the british authorities. Failure on the Pakistani side? Nah that’s a big failure on the British side.
He actually manages to get through immigration in London ! another big failure on the British side. "
Wrong on both the counts. The passport is original based on false credentials. Also, to obtain a visa for london games, he needs documents from his government. In this case, fake documents were created.
Once he has proper passport and proper visa, there's nothing the UK can do.
I utterly hate this British tabloid sting operation journalism style. Where you do the wrong doing yourself, and then cry about the victims. What if the NADRA was genuinely duped by this guy?
@Hari: YES EVERY ONE IN COUNTRY MUST HAVE TO SEE THAT LINK , REALLY IT'S VERY VERY VERY IMPORTANT
I really don't get it !
So he managed to get a fake Pakistani passport. That's a failure on part of the Pakistani passport issuing authority.
He then managed to become part of the Olympic squad for Pakistan at the last minute !, ok failure again on the Pakistani side.
He gets a Visa from the british authorities. Failure on the Pakistani side? Nah that's a big failure on the British side.
He actually manages to get through immigration in London ! another big failure on the British side.
In any case there is no way to prove that he did not use his british passport to enter UK. The UK immigration DOES NOT stamp the passport. and if he has a recent UK passport he can go through immigration without even being dealt by a person.
I see a conspiracy to malign Pakistans Name. That said Pakistani authorities should take the opportunity and bring their house in order.
By choosing to sue we are making a laughing stock of us Pakistanis. We look like foolish buffoons to the rest of the world. We just keeping sinking lower and lower.
Our passport and CNIC System is garbage. So many Afghans have got pakistani passports and CNIC but still we are defending this corrupt institute.
Looks like decades of supporting corrupt politicians of Commonwealth is coming back to haunt the Imperialists.
This is what Pakistan is infamous for round the world, along with terrorism. Genuine Pakistani passport holders will find it harder and harder to travel in the future. The route this country has chosen is the wrong one and its people are paying the price for it.
whatever you do comes back to you!
So what all British High Commissioner said two days back was all lie? Was he trying to save Pakistan's face? I don't think people are that generous these days.
How many billion pounds should the Sun newspaper sue NADRA and Pakistan Government for?
@Babloo: So are the fraudulent passport providers, ‘strategic assets’ too ?
No, perhaps economic assets thou !
Its not a big thing. You only need to provide a few papers to prove your identity and get a CNIC. Its not NADRA's fault. It is same in UK as well, many people get fake passports issued for a small bribe.
LOL !!!! Now try sueing them ! Here is an link to an article in UK's Telegraph, it really shows as to Pakistan's reputation on International stage !
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/9429480/Pakistan-to-sue-The-Sun-over-Olympics-visa-allegations.html
Yeah ..but the Britishers are also confused...
And people were saying the Sun had no proof. Well, their freaking agent flew to Britain on a forged passport!
"......the country is free of defects." ---- Of course, the country is free of defects, it's just us the God forsaken people of this country who are defective.
Please read this : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/Pakistan-global-leader-in-visa-passport-forgery-British-envoy/articleshow/15201223.cms
Who is going sue whom now?
It is true ...........Nadra needs to put its house in order before blaming others.......
So are the fraudulent passport providers, 'strategic assets' too ?