ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan said that apprehended US national Matthew Craig Barrett was deported from the country on the orders of the court, adding that Barrett had applied for a Pakistani visa after five years.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Friday he said that action was being taken against the officer who issued visa to Barrett, stating that the individual who pointed about the US national shall be given a reward. He said that Barrett was not accussed of espionage but he was detained from a sensitive area. He added that Barrett was issued a visa despite his name being in the blacklist.
Addressing the controversy that arose during the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) conference, Nisar said that proper reception was given to the Indian Minister of Home Affairs, Rajnath Singh during his visit to the country. He added that the lunch arranged for the delegates of different countries that took part in the conference was not organised by him.
Nisar stated that rhetoric statements were made even before the Indian Home minister arrived in Pakistan. “It was said that the Indian Minister of Home Affairs will not meet with Pakistan s Interior minister,” he said, further adding that a peaceful protest was carried out in Pakistan against the atrocities being committed in Kashmir by the India forces. He stated that criticism was made from India regarding the conference therefore it was necessary to respond to those statements.
He said that Pakistanis in Kashmir were subjected to an insulting attitude by the Indian forces, further adding that the Indian Home minister stated that Pakistan was not ready to learn a lesson. He added that India s authoritative attitude shall not be tolerated. “Solution of the issues can only be traced through dialogue,” Nisar stated. He added that the Indian media did not issue a single report against the country s Home minister.
Nisar enquired that would it be respectful if someone came to one s home, vented his anger at the other and was provided with no response. Interior minister said that a military operation in Kashmir by the Indian forces shall not be acceptable for any Pakistani. He added that Pakistan s stance over the issue was lauded by the Opposition.
The Interior minister also lambasted those who criticised the National Action Plan (NAP), stating that those who had not even read the NAP were analysing it. He lambasted Pakistan People s Party (PPP) over the reaction of some of the party s Members of National Assembly (MPA) against Nisar’s speech in the NA earlier in the week.
Chaudhary Nisar stated that he appreciated former president and PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari for the first time, adding that some members of PPP stated that the party leader did not need his appreciation. He questioned that why were anti-terrorism measures not taken by those in power during the past as the war had been ongoing for the past 15 years. Nisar said that those who wanted to get involved in a stunt after his speech in the NA, did the stunt.
He stated that a certain group was specifically criticising him. “I always state that no one is serious regarding (putting an end to) corruption,” he said. He said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan should question PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari about the Surrey Palace. He further added that an investigation from the court could be carried out over the allegations leveled on a personal level.
Nisar stated that he personally considered that the arrest of PPP leader Dr Asim by the Rangers was wrong, further adding that People s Party stated that it shall cooperate with the government on two conditions. “People s Party asked (the government) to take the Ayyan Ali case back and to approve Dr Asim s bale,” Nisar revealed. He also said that the air-tickets of model Ayyan Ali and Bilawal Bhutto were purchased from a common and special account.
Nisar said that over thirty million identification cards in the country had been verified till now, adding that 14 foreigners returned their fake Pakistani ID cards on their own. He said that five thousand ID cards were blocked upon receiving complaints from general public. Interior minister encouraged the people to complain against those who possessed fake ID cards, further stating that the names of those who shall be complaining shall be kept confidential.
