Foreign Ministry changes visa rules after 'misuse' by Senate, NA staff

Following Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar’s approval, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has changed visa guidelines for the National Assembly (NA) and Senate secretariat employees after the revelation that some of the parliament’s employees, including officials, have sought political asylum abroad by misusing the ministry’s verbal and visa notes, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Thursday.

Under the changed rules, a ban has been imposed on the issuance of introductory letters to the families of National Assembly and Senate employees for obtaining visas unless they sign an affidavit that they will not misuse the ministry’s verbal note and seek asylum in any other country.  

It has been learnt that the ministry had to change the rules when it came to its knowledge that Senate Secretariat’s Joint Secretary Haider Ali had been given asylum in a western Europe country along with his family.  

Foreign Secretary Cyrus Sajjad Qazi wrote a letter to the secretary Senate and the secretary NA to inform them about the incident.

Reporters: Anwar Abbas and Ihtesham Kiani