Visa fiasco costs Dubai Consul General his job

Pakistan has recalled a diplomat from its Dubai mission with immediate effect for having violated government policy.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has recalled a diplomat from its Dubai mission with immediate effect for having issued visas to 230 foreign nationals in violation of government policy, reliable sources said on Saturday.

Consul General Amjad Ali Sher Mohmand has been asked to report back to the Foreign Office in Islamabad.

Sher Mohmand, contrary to clear-cut policy instructions reportedly issued visas to 86 US and 150 Indian nationals during the months of March and April this year, the source added.

A similar action is also likely to be taken against the visa officer who had issued the travel passes on the instruction of the Consul General.

Pakistani embassies the world over are under strict instructions not to issue visas to nationals not belonging to host countries without explicit clearance from the ministries of interior and defence – a ban that was imposed by the ministry of interior through a “policy instructions” document dated February 23, 2010. The policy was framed following reports that those refused Pakistani visas in Washington and New Delhi had been successful in obtaining them from Pakistan missions in the UAE, the sources added.

Documents also revealed that the foreigners issued entry papers in the UAE were granted visas valid for one year, while others 90 days’ multiple visas – despite the fact that policy instructions clearly state that, even if cleared by the relevant authorities, officers were not competent to issue visas for more than 90 days.

Amjad Sher was summoned by the foreign ministry early this month to explain his actions and during the questioning he is reported to have confessed to the charges but in a written reply maintained that he had done so under pressure from a politically influential Pakistani based in Dubai.

The visa officer has also maintained that he was under pressure to violate the government visa policy.

Amjad Sher was appointed as the CG at Dubai about 10 months ago after completing his three-year tenure at the Pakistan Mission at the European Union headquarters.

An inquiry has also been ordered by the ministry to ascertain the actual facts.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 22^nd, 2010.