Summary Sources say the interior ministry has already apprised the foreign ministry about the procedure.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Interior have made contradictory statements on the issue of MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s passport renewal.
Earlier, Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam Thursday said that MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s request for renewal of his Pakistani passport had been forwarded to the Ministry of Interior.
She said that it is not Foreign office’s prerogative to issue passport. All requests are forwarded to the Ministry of Interior.
Though, the interior ministry has not apprised about its decision on Altaf Hussain’s request, she added.
Tasneem Aslam further said the interior ministry’s response will be forwarded to Pakistani High Commission in London.
To a question, the FO spokesperson said there was no prisoner swap deal between Pakistan and Britain.
According to the sources, Ministry of Interior had already briefed the foreign ministry about the procedure for renewal of passport.
According to the procedure, Altaf Hussain has to get National Identity Card for Oversees Pakistanis (NICOP) prior to applying for passport.
The Interior Ministry said that Altaf Hussain has to go to Pakistani High Commission in London in person to get NICOP card first and then apply for passport, adding that all the steps can be completed in the High Commission where biometrics and digital photograph will be taken. Ministry had assured that MQM Chief will be fully facilitated to make the process smooth.
Altaf Hussain had applied for Pakistani passport on April 13, and said that he can come to Pakistan anytime.
The MQM chief said that he submitted application for Pakistani National Identity Card (NIC) and Passport on April 4. He said that he would go to court if he is denied passport, adding that people can hold peaceful protests. He said that he would come to Pakistan any day after he gets his Pakistani passport.
Following the application, foreign office had confirmed the receipt of application and forwarded it to the interior ministry.
It may be mentioned here that MQM leader Altaf Hussain lives in self-imposed exile in London after being accused of murder in the last round of blood-letting in the 1990s.
