ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that a case will be registered against The Sun’s agent Ali Asad for ‘misdeclaring’ the facts. He was speaking to the media in Islamabad on Saturday.
Malik claimed that Asad had a Pakistani passport earlier and was a dual national too, but did not state it in his form. “He manipulated the true story to bring a bad name to Pakistan,” alleged Malik adding that he has ordered the director general of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to register a case against Asad and will also ask for his deportation from the UK.
“We will give our report to the cabinet as well. We will also lodge our complaint.”
The interior minister further claimed that The Sun’s story was part of a conspiracy against Pakistan. “He got a passport, but did he travel on it? No! Did he misuse it anywhere? No!” Malik declared. “Ali Asad has been involved in similar frauds in the past, and still is.”
Clarifying his order to the FIA to not arrest Lahore-based politician Abid Chaudhry allegedly involved in the visa scam, Malik said that he heard Chaudhry speaking to the media earlier during the day and got to know that his brother has passed away. “So, I said that it was not the right time for him to be arrested, but he should be given the option of getting his statement recorded. He is recording his statement with the FIA voluntarily right now.”
According to a statement released by the Interior Ministry, Malik has also ordered the FIA to gather all details in the scam and submit a report to the ministry by tonight.
Chaudhry was accused by The Sun for bypassing stringent security checks to smuggle people to London under the garb of Pakistani officials in exchange for a payment of Rs1 million.
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COMMENTS (72)
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@Mj: The Sun may be tabloid but it is a newspaper with the largest daily circulation and ranks as one of the most powerful of the newspapers in Britain.
@numbersnumbers: Hear ! Hear !
@Hegdefunder: "@gp65: Which Indian owns the Sun??? Love to know where this is coming from ! "
I did ot say that any Indian owns The SUn. I was responding to kaalchakra who said that.
@Najam: Western media news is filled with FACTS: Osama bin Laden and family lived WHERE for the last 5 years of his life! The 26/11 Mumbai terrorists lauched their attack and were from WHERE? Richard Reed (the shoe bomber) came to WHERE for terrorist training? The Attack on the Indian Parliment was launched by Terrorist groups from WHERE? The Sri Lanke Cricket team was attacked by terrorists for over 20 minutes in broad daylight in a major city, yet got cleanly away WHERE?
To counter the Brit Conspiracy against Pakistan I must state that Pakistan is the most upright, peaceful, secular, progressive, enlightened, trustworthy, honest country on this planet. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I will sue you if you dare to disgaree.
@Najam: Most of the people living in Western countries are programmed by this media
And you think that Pakistanis are immune to this ? Hey your lot even today has not told you the truth about East Pakistan ! Thats after 40 years !!!! Its better to know half truth, than no truth at all !
@numbersnumbers:
How it is said, world is becoming Global Village? Media is creating this village so what Media propaganda matters. Do you live with Pakistanis? Did you marry with any Pakistani? Did you ever visit Pakistan? Did everyone visit Pakistan? Do you have Pakistani friends? If no, how do you hear about Pakistanis? It's media my friend, media... These days, media creates opinions, it influences your personal opinions...
Most of the people living in Western countries are programmed by this media.. They think their media always tells truth... But they show only half picture, other is assumed by yourself.... Wake up guys wake up!!!!!!
Banana or apple ... that is the question ?? however even if it is consipiracy, that does not change the fact that we urgently need to improve our systems where corruption is the language of business.
A conspiracy theory as clear as OBL raid.
Malik should know, he carries two passports as well
The Sun’s links to India and its anti-Pakistan obsessions are well known. Indians need to give up their habit of denying everything. That is not good for your country. India is not that mahan. There is more fraud in India than in Pakistan. Pinky................. Please come out of your wonderland... Its time to wake beta... Subah hogai.. Utjao...
@Kaalchakra: Pakistanis, please consider the possiblity that Pakistan IS being deliberately maligned by some people. The Sun is partly owned by an Indian Gujrati who hates Pakistan.
Editors of The Sun
Sydney Jacobson (1964–65, previously editor of the Daily Herald before the name change) Dick Dinsdale (1965–69) Larry Lamb (1969–72) Bernard Shrimsley (1972–75; Lamb was "editorial director", supervising both the Sun and News of the World) Larry Lamb (1975–80; Lamb took an enforced six-month sabbatical before being sacked by Murdoch) Kelvin MacKenzie (1981–94) Stuart Higgins (1994–98) David Yelland (1998–2003) Rebekah Wade (2003–09) Dominic Mohan (2009–till date) Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TheSun(United_Kingdom)#Editors
None of those editors are Indian. 'Mohan' does not mean Indian.. And when I looked up for the owners, no Indian there too...
For Pakistanis, Pakistan is the centre of the world. But let's be serious here. Pakistan, as a nation, is a nobody. It contributes nothing to the world except terrorism but the people believe that the nation is so important that everybody is cooking up ways to malign it. It's global importance lies purely in the minds of Zaid Hamid and Hamid Gul. If you ask me, they should be the President and PM respectively.
nobody needs to malign Pakistan - the fact is Pakistan is already maligned in the rest of the civilised world thanks to learned Pakistani Ulema
kaalchakra : Your comments are amazing,. Your anti India rant in everything including sun rise and sun set is much more amazing. People like u are the reason why Indians comment here.
Very recently we all know the extend to which Pakistan esp its ambassador in UK defended Pak cricketers, their honesty, their pious, their devotion to nothing but cricket etc. They threatened to sue The Sun for their expose. We all know what happened to the cricketers now. Pakistanis should hold their anti Sun comments till the true story comes out. After that they will have no reason to comment against The Sun anyway,
So you are not suing the Sun in UK?
Pakistan also forge Indian rupees and smuggle into India via Bangladesh and Nepal.
For those who think that it is not conspiracy. This is the presentation delivered by NADRA, hopefully it will open eyes of many people who think that Sun has published credible story. http://www.scribd.com/doc/101115848/NADRA-presentation-on-the-Olympics-passport-scam-investigation
@Cautious: You are spot on. As an ex resident of Pakistan and having parents who still think they are living in outskirts of Lahore, I am of the opinion that most Pakistanis are brain washed in madrassas that it is never their fault but of outside world's. It is like having the word "conspiracy" emboided in our DNA. When the country fails it will be the foreigners fault.
@Hegdefunder:
Go easy on the exclamation marks- you are making a laughing stock of yourself.
And before you regale us with your platitudes, you might first learn how to spell HEDGE Fund!
No body will believe that MR. Barber is speaking truth.
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: Your statement " Until this inferiority complex IS NOT REMOVED" is a double negative! You probably meant to say "Until this inferiority complex IS REMOVED"! However, the world's opinion of Pakistan has nothing to do with what the Pakistani Media does! The world's opinion of Pakistan has EVERYTHING to do with what Pakistan does!
Indians are deliberately acting naive. The Sun's links to India and its anti-Pakistan obsessions are well known. Indians need to give up their habit of denying everything. That is not good for your country. India is not that mahan. There is more fraud in India than in Pakistan.
Oh did you hear it guys. Wait for it!! Yes you guessed it correctly ,It was a "CONSPIRACY".
Is this story credible, why other UK newspaper didn't create the hype.... They know the reality of it.... Which country is fool proof... Can't you get driving license in UK without test? Everything is possible... If you have money, everything is possible...
Someone was saying that why would The Sun will do any conspiracy against Pakistan... Wrong doing in travelling documents is not new and happening in many countries ... Then why Pakistan? UK Immigration claims themselves that they reject or catch fake travelling documents every year that submitted all over the world... Then why Pakistan only?
@gp65: Which Indian owns the Sun??? Love to know where this is coming from !
@Mj: "I wouldn’t get too worked up over Sun. It’s a tabloid with no reputation and standing."
The Sun may be a tabloid. But this could impact likelihood of other genuine Pakistani citizens being a British visa.
@Kaalchakra: "Instead of habitually jumping on anti-Pakistan bandwagon and suspecting Pakistanis, please consider the possiblity that Pakistan IS being deliberately maligned by some people. The Sun is partly owned by an Indian Gujrati who hates Pakistan."
The Sun may have conducted a sting operation due to ill feelings towards Pakistan but the fact that the sting was successful i.e. a Pakistani politician apparently facilitated a passport for 1 million bucks is not a reflection on The Sun or its owners.
Incidentally initially the Pakistan government was planning to sue The Sun. Now that the British government has supported The Sun's story, the issue has become 'Ali Asad'.
It is also disingenuous to say " the passport was obtained but was it misused anywhere? NO". In this case it was not misused because the person obtaining it was part of a sting operation. But this is not to say that other people obtaining such passports have not misused it. We know of at least one person - Abu Hamza - an Indian national who obtained a Pakistani passport and was living in Saudi Arabia.
Conspiracy or kaanspiracy it doesn't matter. Pakistan and Pakistanis are looked on with disgust and suspicion all over the word not just because of this but also because of nuclear proliferation, terrorism, Kargil, Afghanistan, embassy bombings, sheltering OBL, cricket fixing, counterfeit currency, visa fraud etc etc. The list is long. Time and space is short. Rehman Malik and his types, least of all Zaid Hamid, Kaalchakra and gang, will never understand that
If u cannt bring good name to your country dont bring bad either. Culprits.
Here are some more conspiracies where only people outside Pakistan are to blame: 20 hour a day power cuts, gas shortage, killings of Shias, Hazaras and Baluchis, bankrupt economy which needs foreign aid to survive, non payment of taxes, daily targeted killings in Karachi, bankrupt and money losing railways which operates a small perecentage of the locomotives it has, Bin Laden living in Pakistan while Gen Musharraf was telling the world that he was dead, daily terrorist attacks in all parts of the country, numerous terrorist training camps in the country, the list goes on and on.
Pakistanis are too intelligent to believe Mr Malik. He does not seem to mind being a laughing stock.
Does this Minister has no other vocabulary? He calls everything a conspiracy. That is probably the only word he knows.
Typical Rehman Malik script; This is a conspiracy against Pakistan by (Fill in this Space) to smear our "Good Name" (long since gone, by the way)! Never have I seen a politician so in need of the glare of the TV camera lights!!
malik you're the man!!!
Reham Malik is right... I back his point of view
@Raja : "..I wonder why Indians are such hateful ..." They are just being themselves. Hard to understand such consistently obnoxious behavior but there you have it.
Everyone lies except Pakistani politicians and rulers
@Zaid Hamid:
Yes I was visiting Pluto the other day. And they had an awful lot to say against Pakistan.
Hmmm...and mr malik now that you are saying what you are,there MUSt be a lie underneath.
Wonder if the VIDEO RECORDING of the Visa Scam will be considered as part of the "Investigation"? NOT!
Alleging that a conspiracy is afoot to malign Pakistan is like alleging that a conspiracy is afoot to make water wet.
A ready made scam is in the hands of Rehman Malik. He will play up as much possible to keep himself in the front page of newspaper to show that he is busy with work. The boss sitting in the Bunker will also appreciate him.
The Sun newspaper and Pakistani politicians are as (un)trustworthy as each other. I don't know about the veracity of the Sun's claims in this particular case but there is no doubt that Pakistan is a world leader in passport forgery and fraud.
@Kaalchakra: The Sun is partly owned by an Indian Gujrati who hates Pakistan.
Which Indian Gujrati ? This newspaper is owned by News intl, whose owners are News Corp, which is listed company on NYSE. Their list of directors is public info ! Please check it before making such absurd comments without foundation ! You should try and seek employment with the Minister here, as you will fit in perfectly in their mould !
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News_International
@Hegdefunder:
Blah, Blah Blah Blah (give it a rest)
How can Pakistan ever need any help or Public Relations Consultants, when Rehman Malik is there for them ! A true servant of Pakistani people ! May he remain there and hopefully does not return to UK, as we have enough fools in our Westminster too !
I wonder why Indians are such hateful, and worry about our country. 59% of Indian students in England were fake last year, they should vent out their worries over that news article.
@Kaalchakra I live in the UK an the newspaper owned by Rupert Murdoch. His company is called News International. No Indian owns or also has part-ownership in the newspaper. The British newspapers are very aggressive they go after politicians or celebrities with ruthlessness. This is typical of The Sun. The legal system is very good Rehman Malik can sue The Sun and get a fair trial. I personally would not advise this because I am sure he will lose. This would create more embarrassment for Pakistan and make things look even worse.
May God help us, Rehman Malik has taken this issue in his hands.
This man is alwaus fighting pakistans corner I salute him
@Cautious
and you have unhealthy obsession with pakistan news I recommend u seek help :p
Whole universe is conspiring against Pakistan.
no electricity no gas no water. present government itself is conspiracy against pakistan.
Pakistan's response to all accusations ever made amount to a murderer getting seen while stabbing someone then saying he was just cooking dinner and the victim threw themselves on the knife in an attempt to ruin his good name and dinner.
Conspiracy theories will continue to emerge until Pakistan will learn NOT to bow before the powers of foreign counties.
Our media is also too weak to defend the country.
The heavy weight anchor persons of various private TV channels needs to be trained as how to fight media war against Pakistan.
Pakistanis at every level think that they are inferior than the rest of the nations.
Until this inferiority complex is not removed, Pakistan will remain a subject for the foreign print and electronic media and will keep on earning a bad name.
When we have too many weaknesses in ourselves, how can Pakistan defend itself?
LOL ! Here we go again another Charade in making ! He obviously has still not stated as to when will GOP file a Suit against News Corp in London ! He wants an UK Citizen to be deported to Pakistan ! Not extradited as he is well aware that there is no agreement in place, and there has never been an deportation of UK Citizen, as its impossible even if they have dual Nationality ! All this BS is for local consumption and he is well aware of the facts that this case is already lost if filed ! Yet the reluctance to arrest the alleged facilitator of the scheme, really speaks volumes to those who understand this Charade !
Now that these thieves and robbers are being exposed again,this biggest lier in the history of Pakistan has still has the gall to call it a conspiracy..Nobody needs to conspire against Pakistan..These people are inviting conspiracies themselves...Sadly this is the truth because these so-called pakistanis are the true enemies of pakistan from within
@Baba Ji: He was recently reappointed sometime in the last few days.
Sorry who is Rehman Malik?? Is he the same guy who was security inharge of BiBi at the time of acessination? Oh he himself is a creator of this kind of conspiracy. May God safeguard Pakistan from these people
@Cautious: Get a life
I don't know why Pak leaders call everything a conspiracy against them. Why a British newspaper would do that? Britain is Pak's friend and generally their leaders and celebraties take refuge in there. Their are many examples and I do not need to mention all of them and so seriously there is no conpiracy for God's sake. Why don't just accept that the state of affairs is very bad. It is not that other countries do not have problems like corruption, extremism, terrorism, political violence but the extent they are in Pakistan is really shocking and I wonder how did the country reach there. I mean how much bad their leaders may have done in the past to be here? And the denial from the country is also amazing, looks like that the whole country does not want to see the reality from open eyes and mind. Actually I can understand the denial as it is an opprasive society where hinding is more celebrated then transparency or openness, it is obvious that people have many unanswered questions and their hopeless leaders address these questions is various conspiracy Theories. Conspiracy theories keeps people contained and works for these corrupt leaders. I don't know how Pakistani intellectuals will revert his egg and chicken situation to keep the country in the right direction. These corrupt leaders (army or political) can't solve this situation and I think their thinkers, intellectual ellites have to take the matter in their hands otherwise sooner or later people will take it in their hands and that situation would be worst. That will bring the country to an end.
I wouldn't get too worked up over Sun. It's a tabloid with no reputation and standing.
Instead of habitually jumping on anti-Pakistan bandwagon and suspecting Pakistanis, please consider the possiblity that Pakistan IS being deliberately maligned by some people. The Sun is partly owned by an Indian Gujrati who hates Pakistan.
The hon'ble minister is bypassing the main issue. People would like to know why is he talking of sueing Ali Asad and not 'The Sun'? This change of stand is critical as it gives legitimacy to the main contention of 'The Sun' that terrorists could sneak into the games village using Pakistani Passports. That is a horrific scenario for the world at large, and nobody gives a damn for what Ali Asad did, people need to know how a nexus of politicians-Govt. officials-goons are allowed to operate a syndicate whereby, for exchange of money, someone can get access to travel documents of such magnum proportions.
The Sun’s story was part of a conspiracy against Pakistan
You guys have to come up with a new line -- the "conspiracy" mantra has been used too often.
There is no point in making statements for public consumption. Please don't repeat the sorry episode of how PCB handled the match fixing scandal. Come clean on your side, only then the world would consider you credible.
Pardon my general knowledge but is he still the interior minister ?
Reply from Rehman malik on twitter "Ref Pp scam FIA to record the Statement of Ch Abid without his arrest because of death of his brother.He will be arrested if found involved"
Abid Chaudhry belongs to which party???