The Pakistan government has made it mandatory for Pakistani missions abroad to issue visas to foreigners intending to travel to Pakistan only after clearance by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
According to sources, the major policy decision came after lengthy deliberations, following the deteriorating security situation in the country.
The sources said there were reports of undesired activities of some foreigners, especially Americans and foreign journalists, in Islamabad. The country’s military establishment took serious note of the situation and has told the government to involve the ISI in visa issuance.
Thus, all foreigners will have to explain the purpose of visit and duration of their stay, with a no-objection certificate to hold them accountable in case of objectionable activity.
Those whose visas have expired and need short duration visas will have to return to their countries, in line with the new guidelines.
Pakistani-origin nationals from western countries will go through the same code of conduct/procedure for visas.
The Pakistani authorities have rejected visa applications of at least 135 American citizens, including senior army officials, diplomats and contractors.
A senior US embassy official in Islamabad said its diplomats have been repeatedly stopped at checkpoints and their cars are also searched as part of what they said was a wider focus on foreigners working in Pakistan.
He said many embassy employees had gone home for Christmas and would be unable to return as their visas have not been extended.
Quit? Over my dead body: Zardari
Lahore: Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari is undeterred by the turmoil in the country and the wide scale demand for his resignation, and has made it clear that he would fight back. During a meeting of Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) Central Executive Committee (CEC) on Saturday, Zardari vowed to face the challenge. “They would only lift my dead body from the presidency,” he told party leaders during the meeting, referring to his opponents.
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