News
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Pakistan, UK swing into actionLONDON/ISLAMABAD: Twelve NADRA personnel, including the Lahore GM, have been suspended following a report in Britain’s The Sun newspaper that claimed to have revealed a fake Pakistani passport and visa ring. The revelation sparked frenzy among both Pakistani and British authorities. Pakistan government on Monday formed a special investigation team to probe the newspaper’s reports, while the British intelligence agency MI6, UK Border Agency and British High Commission Islamabad have also started investigation into the alleged scandal. All suspended NADRA officials are from its Lahore office, and Interior Adviser Rehman Malik said their names had been placed on the ECL. He also formed a joint investigation team, headed by the FIA DG, and asked it to complete the probe in three days and arrest those responsible. The team includes officials from NADRA, ISI, IB and FIA. A massive investigation within NADRA and the passport office will also be conducted on the reports. NADRA Chairman Tariq Malik told Daily Times their six men and two women had been suspended and would be prosecuted if found guilty. He said all angles of the scandal would be investigated. The Pakistan High Commission in London clarified in a statement it was not involved in the matter. Moreover, Pakistan Olympics Association President Lt Gen (r) Arif Hassan said documents of the Pakistani squad were prepared through proper procedure and there was no possibility of procurement of fake accreditation. asif mehmood/staff report
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk