"Pakistan is a world leader in the visa fraud business which is why we have to check very scrupulously every single application, every single passport, every single document," British High Commissioner to Pakistan Adam Thomson said in a news conference according to The Telegraph.
The high commissioner was also quoted as saying that the UK visa officials had spotted as many as 4000 fake documents submitted by Pakistanis seeking travel documents last year.
The British High Commissioner was talking about recent fake passport scam claim made by the British tabloid The Sun. According to the claim, the paper had broken into a crime ring which was issuing fake passports and visas, giving potential terrorists a chance to sneak into London Olympics 2012.
When questioned multiple times about the visa scam during an Olympics-related press conference, Thomson said that “fraud and forgery were very strong industries in Pakistan.”
The British High Commission had earlier on Friday released its report in the visa scam, claiming that The Sun’s agent Ali Asad had successfully attained a 'fake passport' in Pakistan to sneak into Britain along with Pakistan’s Olympic delegation.
However, investigation into the matter by Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) found that no fraud or illegal act was committed while issuing the Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) and passport to The Sun investigator as claimed by the tabloid.
Nadra in fact claimed that Ali had legally updated and renewed his CNIC's but had entered false information on his UK passport.
COMMENTS (121)
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@Mirza: " Like water in milk, fake medicines, adulterated food, this is going on for generations and nothing new."
Those are actually trademarks of your higher than deeper than friend China.
@sharma ; Look who is talking:)
@Nabeel: Pakistan is in such a state of denial, that statement of facts appears to the people of Pakistan as nonsensical tripe and cheap point scoring. It's another matter that the world is now beginning to think of anything emanating from Pakistan in pretty much the same vein. To answer you, Rs 300 crore is the "amount due from Pakistan on account of share of pre-partition debt.". This does not include any interest. You would be able to calculate that wouldn't you? Please take a look at the Indian budget (which) is freely available on the net). I am sure such has been your indoctrination, that this will once again be denied. Happy denial - is all I can say.
And i thought only terrorism was our main export but now we can boast about this as well in the land of the pure
Yet UK support these politicians with amnesty, aid, citizenship and seats.
pakistanis are martial race and desendent of aryan. so why not britain wave visa for pakistani . every british girls like pakistani men. at least pakistanis are much more better than other south asian
@Zaikam: Here he has named a country with a blame..just use some intellect and face the truth
Tell him that his passports are so easily fakeable that british govt have to make agreements/pacts with countries begging them pretty please for not to.... Israel has twice forged British passports .. first to kill British citizen in 1987 and then in 2010.
"Promise made by Shimon Peres to Geoffrey Howe in 1987 that British passports would no longer be used for Israeli intelligence operations" http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/britain-has-dealt-a-blow-to-israeli-arrogance-1.266625
no comments Unhappy with Israel, EU condemns Dubai killing | Reuters www.reuters.com/.../us-emirates-assassination-idUSTRE61L2F52010..
Another feather in the Pakistani cap.
@Axit : Please dont try to put the crown on our head. This award has already been announced by our colonial masters ! We Indians only want to smirk, smile and applaud. Congrats Paki brothers! The honor is yours and yours only
@Rizwan: What analysis? Stop imagining things.
I have made follwing analysis of actually what happned:
Identity 1 (Genuine) : Born 1980 in Sahiwal. Name Ali. Now UK national. Identity 2 (Fake): Born 1970. Name Mohammad Ali. Lahore
ID1 goes to NADRA, and gets ID card in the name of ID2. Then gets machine readable passport. This act is illegal, as he got a fake ID of another person.
NADRA says that they issued ID card and subsequent passport to ID2. In fact, they issued a card to ID1 imposter posing as ID2. (They are also trying to imply that real ID of ID1 is ID2??, so they have not done anything wrong)
So, SUN is correct in saying that a fake passport has been isuued. It is unbeliveable that NADRA officials can mislead, and even the federal cabinet issues a statement without making proper enquiries. Perhaps this incompetence is reflection of where we as a nation are now.
Pakistan is the world leader for all the wrong reasons and the list is endless.
First Pakistan accused of corruption and got 8th or 9th place in the world's most corrupt countries and now visa fraud business.Very surprisingly Pakistan is being accused of corruption and visa fraud business.....Surprisingly,amazingly and interestingly all these medals Pakistan got mostly in PPP's regime..........
The highest number of fake students come from India.
And the first Gold medal even before the Olympics begins - goes to Pakistan - well done.
just watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0ANvxe_0KQ
Please tell us something which we don't know about ourselves. Thanks for this glorification.
How stupid they ask the guy get the passport and we will give you the fraud Visa . and than blame Pakistan.
WoW ! One more feather in Pakistan's Kufi. keep it up !!
The fact is that British High Commission in Pakistan is the highest earner of revenues in the form of visa fees among all the British embassies in the world. They refuse visas for making the people pay the high visa fees multiple times. There are countless instances when people have been refused visas (with genuine documents) on several occasions and were eventually granted a visa on the basis of same documents after charging the visa fee multiple times.
The British High Commission is exploiting the desperation of Pakistani people to live abroad and are being thankless at the same time.
@sam: That's correct. This is the reason so many criminals from Pakistan and the world over are able to live in the UK while perfectly legitimate people have their applications refused for some extremely stupid reason. A friend's 70 year old mother was refused a British visa because she did not attach a proof that she had been married (as she ticked it on the form).
My own friend got an HSMP visa, while being on student visa inside the UK, all the documents along with tax returns were created fake here inside british by their own organisations. Many people inside their institutes do scams and forge documents
@Pakistani Hindu:
well then enjoy the embarrassment, oh and if its not enough, vote nawaz sharif. He might bring you new and unheard type of embarrassment, you ll be having a great time.
@Sandip Could you kindly advise how Pakistan owes India money? Correct me if I'm not mistaken, in the fateful year of 1947 the British were supposed to divide fairly between Hindustan and Pakistan. We all know how fair the Blighties were, neither the calculated planes, tanks, office equipment was released to the newly created Pakistan nor was Pakistan's share of the Rs. 17million of the then reserves of united India. Even the Muslim troops who were transferred to Pakistan were told to leave behind their boots, Bailey belts and even pips! So kindly, check your facts prior to dispensation of nonsensical tripe and cheap point scoring.
Amazing how the Britishers come in with their NRO formulae and then make wholly out of order statements against their brief... But alas, they're the puppet masters and Islamabad is full of puppets :(
Just for the record Islamabad maybe, but as a Western diplomat once said Pakistan lies 20 miles outside Islamabad - take it anyway you want, but its almost definitely true in this context!
@Zaikam: Why do Pakistanis bring India in their comments. They should look at the comments made about Pakistan and see how things could be made better. India will also have to do its best to stop visa frauds.
In my experience Pakistanis are very honest people even though they hidden bin laden near the military camp. This is a conspiracy against pakistan by all other non muslim countries. Pakistani Govt also very helpful to their people (Only for Muslims). They support people to make fraudulent documents like passports. World leaders should learn from them. Very good. Keep it up.
@Mirza: despite that most of the time they a deal with every case honestly. I was refused US visa and I appealed, I was called for interview back and incidentally I got same lady for interview. she asked me that why I was refused and told her I don't know. she looked at papers and said she did not write the reason for refusal. she said since she has already rejected me so she will not give me visa. but this was unfair so she decided that some one else should interview . Second person approved visa .
British embassy should strict there visa policy.
@elementary
A large fraction of Pakistanis in US are from the educated elites. They have a better reputation. After 911 most of the illegals or were uneducated left the US.
@Lala Gee: Lala Gee, unfortunately the standards for corruption is pretty low in rest of the world as compared to Pakistan. For you 4000 out of millions is no corruption at all (for you to regard it as corruption, it should be a million at least), but for the ROW its shameful. This is one area where Pakistan beats all others combined hands down.
we need Zardari 2 stay in the office for another term to shape our image properly..Long live Zardari...
Pathetic claim! If God forbid, there is a terrorist attack during Olympics; it will be executed by a British national. Stop blaming us for every sh#t that happens in ur part of the world!
This arrogant excuse for a high comm. should be thrown out of the country. Pelleted with tomatoes on the way out.
Reality is that immigration is big industry in Pakistan.Ever noticed front page immigration ads on national dailies from immigration firms ? Most Pakistani lawyers over here in UK only deal in immigration cases.Pakistani solicitors and accountants here in UK are busy 24/7 to exploit loop holes. Just to stop Pakistanis,Indians,Bengalis and Nigerian,they cannot make life of Japanese,Australians or Canadians difficult.
We know that we have been facing several severe social, economic and other issue for years. However, we also know that corruption flows from top to bottom not the vice versa. Western democracies, for their own malicious interests, promoted all worst kinds of corruption in Pakistan. For instance, they backed all military coup d'etat in Pakistan and helped military dictators suppress democratic forces, human rights, and turn Pakistan into a security state. Furthermore, in Britain, a large number of fake colleges and institutes have been operating for years. It is indeed an industry in Britain. They exploit numerous students from different parts of the world every year, but still face no accountability from British government. Moreover, Britain is well known for hosting a large number of financial fraudulent and scams via Internet every year. Still, the British mindset blames other nations for fraudulent acts. It is such a shame.
Document is a Document ASLI OR NAKLI !!!!!
Pakistan is World leader in Fraud. End of discussion.
@Mirza: Do pakistanis living in US have the same reputation? If not . why?
Pakistan should devolep its own higher education institution
Daily Telegraph is very anti Pakistan news paper, no matter what the ambassador said they would spin to story to the extreme to malign Pakistan. It is a worst example of yellow journalism in UK not even worth to use as a toilet paper.
Fraud is everywhere.. it is a matter of price. Sadly, it is cheap in Pakistan. . I have heard strong ANECDOTAL evidence from various sources that a fake British passport can be bought for £5000 and one can travel etc onit and a genuine one can be bought for 10,000 pounds and that one receives in person from Home Office!
Pak Govt, has already instructed to file a defamation suit against the newspaper SUN in UK court . So there is a denial of any visa scam by Pakistani official/ politician/travel agency. . Awaiting the development in this regard.( if the suit is filed or the step postponed/ abandoned)
@kaka: yes u r right.journalists only copy those elements of news which can bring bad name for pakistan.it improves their rating.
dont blame pakistanis only.a visa officer knows best how a fake passport business is operated.british high comission officials must be involved in accepting bribes.if they were honest they would never let such things happen.
but yesterday wasn't he saying something else ?
We should ask him if a trophy and certificate come with that title.
Fraud! ahaha at last they gave new label,that we didn't own before Fraud+terrorist=Pakistan
Seriously Express Tribune?
Why you failed to publish that M. Ali Asad's UK passport which he claims to be fraudently made in Pakistan and was able to use this passport to sneak into UK to show the world that Pakistan issues fake passports, was actually issed by British Government in UK according to NADRA. and that NADRA is filing a law suit against The Sun?
Shameless reporting full of lies!
Aren't we missing the point that these old colonizers and neocolonials promote strict visa regimes for their ex-colonies but press for the free movement of goods through WTO, globalization, etc. They promote ardent nationalism at home but press for transborder value system, trade, and interactions to benefit themselves. They hold the mike and put stopers on others' mouths. They wallow in the blood of massacres on the name of human rights and higher human values...if they are hurt a little, they would raise a lot of hue and cry by teeming such acts as terrorism...they are like that and many among us just feed on their sugarcoated discourses to believe in whatever they say...
Would the dear High Commissioner also comment on his government's role in gifting us this NRO government? It is partly because of their meddling that we are in such a mess...
@Sandip et al
We very well know our grey matters and we will deal with them..We as a nation fight, love, cry whatever we do..this is our problem and we will settle it ourselves..we don't need your help or for that matter your comments here..We very well know how much "concerned" you people are for us! Go and settle your issues first, you have got your own!
People con people but our controls are effective so how are we world leader in Visa fraud? The only difference is that we have enough regulations to detect forged documents.
@Pakistani Hindu: Something is burning here.
Looks like his strings have been pulled otherwise he was telling a different story a day earlier. Terming Pakistan world leader in fraud business based on the fact that just 4,000 documents were found fake out of millions submitted last year is a gross exaggeration keeping in mind that mostly such documents are submitted by the poor people desperately in need of job opportunities abroad. Perhaps he didn't know the statistics of India and Nigeria otherwise he might not have said what he said. Or, he is just trying to save his government from embarrassment as one of her citizens and a business entity have committed a proven serious crime and violated several laws of the land just to malign and give bad publicity to the state of Pakistan. It also seems to be a move to save a prominent UK newspaper from punitive and financial damages as the crime committed by the reporter with the consent of his newspaper's management needs little proof to convict them in the courts of law. The GOP must file a case against the reporter and the newspaper in UK and pursue it with full vigor in order to stop such malicious actions of the British tabloids in the future. It is a matter of a state's honor as she was maligned and incriminated by a foreign private entity purely for her sinister gains at the expense of the 200 million citizens of the state.
The Minister responsible for checking crimes of this nature was a dual national British subject until a few days ago. Now with British help he has reverted to a single nationality status of Pakistani but is still in charge of the same Interior Ministry. Ironic isn't it ??
@Ash: "Can never understand why ET – A “Pakistani newspaper” will publish all these negative indian comments!" Since along with being A “Pakistani newspaper”, they have grey matter as well and a sense of what is good for Pakistan. Unless you mean to suggest that being a Pakistani and having grey matter are two mutually exclusive things.
Embarrassing but true.
@Ash: So you cannot take true criticisms. Sad, very sad.
@sam: Have you been all over FATA to say that drones are killing innocent people?
Mr Adam Thomson the official match ball of London 2012 #Olympics is made in #Pakistan :)
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=392222794160412&set=a.151107008271993.25185.151098854939475&type=1&ref=nf
Congrats Pakistan ! You beat the world in all this. Enjoy your time in this glory1 always! -from your not so envious neighbours
@gp65 They are registered by the corrupt officials of the UK government. Thats exactly my problem. And thats why he can not present any solid evidence of what he is saying. Besides, words like gaming the system or bending the rules dont change the basic fraud thats underway, does it? And the fraud is taking jobs and oppurtunities away from the local people who really deserve them. So no matter how you twist this, its still a fraud. And ALL the calculations conducted locally in England show Pakistan is in no way the leader in visa frauds. He is aying this in Pakistan because we have nt got the gall to show him the reality. Our leaders own interests in UK. They would nt bother ever. Whereas other nations have such a huge presence on UK soil that no one really can raise a voice against the crimes/frauds they commit. In this world of marketing, Pakistanis are very poor campaigners. Thats the biggest reason why we have a bad name.
@All, It's an international conspiracy to defame the innocent people of Pakistan. Their own country Pakistan is a heaven on the earth, thus why would they forge passports to flee to other countries? For Pakistan has no electricity shortages, no terrorism, no extremism, no Taliban, no Al-Qaeda and even Osama was not found in Pakistan. Their government provides world class education to its people. People in Pakistan are free to go to their temples, mosques and churches. A Hindu has ceased to be a Hindu and a Christian has ceased to be a Christian in Pakistan. They treat people of Ahmediya and Shia community just like their own brothers. Please don't blame the innocent Pakistanis, for they are the most civilized and secular people in the world. Forget about visa fraud, they can do no wrong. Their religion teaches them to commit no wrong against fellow citizens and be pure. Every citizen of Pakistan is Pak i.e. pure. The fact is the whole world is jealous of Pakistanis and their success. They are astonished as to how a small country like Pakistan can achieve such a great success in such a short period of time. Just look at the progress Pakistan has made in last 65 years. It's simply unbelievable. While the rest of the world is busy in sending astronauts to the Moon and the Mars, Pakistan has been sending it's people straight to heaven for the last 65 years. No other people have been able to achieve such a feat so far. They don't export terrorism to their neighboring countries. Actually it's a RAW/CIA/MOSSAD/KGB conspiracy to fail the state of Pakistan. Welcome to the land of pure i.e. Pakistan.
So now it will be interesting to watch what happens about the proposed suit against The Sun by the Pakistani government.
@anwar: Didn't know Pakistan was so rich to be just forgetting billions that others owed to it. By the way Pakistan owes a few thousand crores to India as well. When is that going to be returned?
@A Z Babar: One of your previous ambassadors to the US had tried to do just that. Remember what befell him?
Ouch, that hurts especially when it is coming from a person who is not supposed to cross the line of diplomatic decorum! We definitely need some introspection. With state institutions (judiciary, provincial governments, the Army and ISI) breaking apart and declaring themselves sovereign and the others (like the mullahs brigade, political parties) also following the example, it is only natural to get into this predicament. And that is the reason why our compatriots abroad feel little embarrassed when someone asks our country of origin.
Don't believe this man. It's a conspiracy by the rest of the world against Pakistan. Correct?
@Kanwal: "Bogus colleges ARE frauds. I am sure you understand that these students did not go to Cambridge and Oxford and UCL. They go to fake colleges which are registered by the UK government by the way, and do jobs instead of studying. And while they are there, the try and find all means to extend their stay at any cost".
If these students are enrolled in colleges registered by British authorities, that is a loophole the British need to close i.e. close the bogus colleges. If these people are using a currently legal way to go tp Britain, they cannot be called fraud - though I would agree it is gaming the system.
Corruption is rampant every where in the World. What about Libor scandal? It started in England Mr Commissioner.
Ohh btw you guys are World Leaders in invading countries and killing innocents...
@sam: "how can he say”Pakistan is a world leader”. has he been to all over world? has he worked as a high commissioner to all countries on earth?"
HE is probably going by the perecentage of British visa applications from citizens of different countries that are detected as fraud. If the number is highest for Pakistan then he would have a basis for his statement without really working in high commissions all over the world.
What about the fraud that has been committed few years back by the British High Commission Officials in Islamabad in which 4000 Pakistani Passports with valid visas of various countries were stolen on the way from British High Commission Islamabad to British High Commission in Abu Dhabi, UAE and were reported lost.
These passports were of Pakistani Students, Government and Military Officials and none of the passport were ever traced.
I think that the British Government Officials at British High Commission, Islamabad has intentionally stolen Pakistani Passport to use it for undisclosed reasons.
cool. let mr. rahman reply. the first statement the re employed interior minister
Chalk jee Pakistan is good with something, it is. Not all that bad
UK houses all the high ranking criminals in the world under a term called political asylum! That's the biggest industry in which UK has monopoly!
What they fail to mention (as always) is that our dear neighbour India is equally worse, if not more, at visa / travel document scams. Their industry in this is bigger than ours. For Pakistan, well this has been a reality for a while...so don't know why its a shock to anyone.
Well, look at the brighter side, you are a world leader in something ! A proud moment, I must say !
if police can not catch a thief we say that "Police is not capable" we dont say that "thief was bad guy because he ran away quickly" so it was British govt responibility to trace out the scam.thats why they are employed and to blame thats what is there job.its not correct to blame and accuse Pakistan.
@Angel Stop this self pity and come out of your sand hole. We are not a developed nation yet. But what you have, does not look like self-deprecating humor to me.
Mirza sb...for once u r right...including politicians Who gv wrong info in election forms n fake degrees n list is long...unless we do Self accountability we shall never improve..
MOSSAD+RAW+CIA+MI-6 Conspiracy against innocent, god fearing and honest Pakistanis!
It would have been more decent-mannered if the reactions were pro checking the facts and uprooting the ills.Accusing the accusers without the will to weed out the fraudsters within is not the worldly way.Those who feel embarassed, are the only hope for the country.
@gp65 The data is provided by an anti immigration group because thee UK government can never ever have enough courage to admit the mess they have made. Bogus colleges ARE frauds. I am sure you understand that these students did not go to Cambridge and Oxford and UCL. They go to fake colleges which are registered by the UK government by the way, and do jobs instead of studying. And while they are there, the try and find all means to extend their stay at any cost. I think all of this DOES amount to frauds. You got your definition of fraud all wrong mate.
British Government charges around Rs. 100,000 per visa application. That is not a scam, that is daylight robbery!
Another feather in Pakistan`s rich cap!!! Congratulations. Must be zionist and Hindu agenda!!!
its failure of British System. its there job to stop scams.thats why they get paid.its not right to blame another country for your own failures.
@PTI till death: BUT WE DO NOT KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE THE NAME OF DEMOCRECY .
@Zaikam: "V Sharma, mr righty rightist, Hedgefunder: Take a break for meanwhile and enlighten yourself with this one also:
http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/59-of-indian-students-to-britain-fake-report_789661.html
"
Please note that data is provided by an anti-immigration campaign group. I ti sthey who are concluding that the students will not return after their studies are over. This is not the British home office saying that the students got in on fraudulent visa. Big difference.
techsupport: Did it hurt?
how can he say"Pakistan is a world leader". has he been to all over world? has he worked as a high commissioner to all countries on earth? has he done deep research about visa scams in all countries on earth? if not than how can he compare Pakistan with world? he just expressed his hatred against Pakistan which British officials do very often.they dont miss a chance to blame and shame Pakistan.
Although he might be speaking the truth, this is no way for a diplomat to talk.
@Zaikam, There is a big difference between individuals , who are not students, claiming to be students and a state providing fraudulent identity papers. One is fraud at the individual level and the other is fraud , enabled by the state.
@Zaikam So, did that make you feel better?
@sam: British High Commissioner only spoke the truth. Pakistanies are always in denial mode. Truth hurts, Pakistan govt. should find the loop holes and correct them.
Unfortunate but True to some extent. I have seen frauds with my own eyes so i have to agree. But it is unfair to say we are world leaders as ambassador then did not travelled to Columbia or Mexico who are our BAAP in Fraud.
@Blithe: Truth is bitter!
V Sharma, mr righty rightist, Hedgefunder: Take a break for meanwhile and enlighten yourself with this one also:
http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/59-of-indian-students-to-britain-fake-report_789661.html
People who are blaming the British Embassy, do not have a clue.
When the Pakistan Government issues a passport, claiming someone to be Mr A, the British Embassy is suppose to honor that. It's not the task of British Embassy to doubt if Mr A is actuallt Mr B and the Pakistan passport authorities have issued a fraudulent ID.
count on British to act honest and brave.
Im reading the same story on the telegraph.. ET has failed to mention this para for some strange reason
In the end he offered the brutal truth that fraud and forgery were “very strong” industries in Pakistan, before recovering to add that fraudulent documents made for a fraction of the 150,000 applications submitted each year and that Britain was satisfied with local visa controls.
further
“The High Commissioner raised the incidence of visa abuse stemming from Pakistan, explaining that it was among the highest in the world, although passport and visa forgeries exist in all countries,”
thats poor work from the home ground newspaper.
Yes !you may be correct : Fraud and forgery is a "national" industry of WESTERN DEMOCRACIES and are managed & run the government itself but OUT BY HERE its a solo affair. Off-hand i recall that France simply forgot to return 3 billion $ they owed Pakistan when a deal was scuttled by US pressure.
Then why he had different version of story one day back?
http://tribune.com.pk/story/413264/we-trust-nadra-pakistans-passport-system-british-high-commissioner/
What has changed over night?
Zero training on diplomacy
Well, Pakistan is also a world leader in a lot of things. And believe me the list is pretty long and the items on the list are not flattering. In fact they are downright nasty.
Congrats Pakistan.
Another achievement. Interior Minister no statement please on this issue, people will not take serious as your own countries are involved.
The British High Commissioner made very honest remarks about the country.... He only told what was the truth.... thats how one should serve his country; with dignity, honesty and patriotism.
Only 4000 fake documents in one whole year. May be High Commission should check the documents more closely.
this man should be expelled
how did he get the visa? UK embassy gives the visa how did they mess it up?
@PTI till death: Please spare us..!!
Sir ji they are English speaking fraud minded peoples so dont blame them ,,,
Absolute shame. Now it makes me more determined to throw this status-quo and corrupt government. For God sake, OPEN YOUR EYES and make Imran your next PM.
Harsh words but true. This is so embarrassing.
noooo, really?