Un-cooperative: ‘Pakistani consulates demand bribes’

Gujar the government to take notice of the issue and provide relief to Pakistanis living abroad.

PESHAWAR: The Awami Workers Party (AWP) on Friday alleged officials of Pakistan diplomatic missions in Malaysia and the Gulf states were asking for bribes from labourers before renewing their visas. Addressing a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club, AWP President Fanoos Gujr said they have been receiving complaints from labourers in Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and other Gulf countries about these illegal activities. He added those people are facing difficulties due to the non-cooperative attitude of the staff. He asked the government to take notice of the issue and provide relief to Pakistanis living abroad as they are a source of foreign remittances in the country. Talking about the all-parties conference of the federal government, Gujr said the leaders have once again ignored the people of this militancy-hit province as no compensation package was announced for the affected tribesmen. He maintained that the government’s ‘step-motherly attitude’ was creating a sense of deprivation among people of K-P and the tribal region.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th, 2013.