SC summons interior secretary to explain delays in passports at mission abroad
Apex court wants interior secretary to appear on February 19 and explain its position.
Applications of 7,500 overseas Pakistanis who are held up there due to non-availability of machine readable passports in Pakistan Embassy in China. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Supreme Court on Monday expressed dismay over insensitive attitude of passport department and directed the interior secretary to appear in person on February 19 and explain the position on issuing of machine readable passports.
A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, resumed hearing of the suo motu notice case on an application sent by an overseas Pakistani regarding non-issuance of machine readable passports to 7,500 overseas Pakistanis, residing in China.
During the course of proceedings, Muhammad Safdar, project director (machine readable passports), immigration & passport department, appeared before the bench.
He submitted that the office is in receipt of the applications of 7,500 overseas Pakistanis who are held up there due to non-availability of machine readable passports in Pakistan Embassy in China.
He said that the machine was installed in February, 2013; however, it is not operational on account of non-appointment of the technical officer which is a grade-17 post.
On court's query, he said that a reference was sent to ministry of interior in July, 2013, and four to five reminders were also issued.
He explained that the ministry has not yet issued the requisite appointment order because it has sent the reference to the PM Secretariat and, on account of the general ban imposed, no further action could be taken.
Justice Azmat Saeed remarked that it was duty of the government to appoint an officer in the Pakistan embassy in China and added that if government will not work, then who will work.
Additional Attorney General Shah Khawar said that directorate of immigration has submitted report that due to non-appointment of staff, people were facing hardships regarding issuing of passports.
Chief Justice Tassaduq Jillani asked Shah Khawar that the court has taken suo motu on news published in newspapers but it seems that mMinistry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials do not read newspapers or they just ignored the news after reading.
He observed that people were facing hardships in other countries as well due to negligence. The case was adjourned till February 19.
The Supreme Court on Monday expressed dismay over insensitive attitude of passport department and directed the interior secretary to appear in person on February 19 and explain the position on issuing of machine readable passports.
A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, resumed hearing of the suo motu notice case on an application sent by an overseas Pakistani regarding non-issuance of machine readable passports to 7,500 overseas Pakistanis, residing in China.
During the course of proceedings, Muhammad Safdar, project director (machine readable passports), immigration & passport department, appeared before the bench.
He submitted that the office is in receipt of the applications of 7,500 overseas Pakistanis who are held up there due to non-availability of machine readable passports in Pakistan Embassy in China.
He said that the machine was installed in February, 2013; however, it is not operational on account of non-appointment of the technical officer which is a grade-17 post.
On court's query, he said that a reference was sent to ministry of interior in July, 2013, and four to five reminders were also issued.
He explained that the ministry has not yet issued the requisite appointment order because it has sent the reference to the PM Secretariat and, on account of the general ban imposed, no further action could be taken.
Justice Azmat Saeed remarked that it was duty of the government to appoint an officer in the Pakistan embassy in China and added that if government will not work, then who will work.
Additional Attorney General Shah Khawar said that directorate of immigration has submitted report that due to non-appointment of staff, people were facing hardships regarding issuing of passports.
Chief Justice Tassaduq Jillani asked Shah Khawar that the court has taken suo motu on news published in newspapers but it seems that mMinistry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials do not read newspapers or they just ignored the news after reading.
He observed that people were facing hardships in other countries as well due to negligence. The case was adjourned till February 19.