Inquiry into number of visas not possible: Nisar

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan Tuesday said that an inquiry into the number of visas issued during the last two governments is not possible due to absence of relevant record. Addressing a press conference, he said that there is no recordkeeping of number of visas issued to foreigners without security clearance during the previous two governments. "These governments not only issued visas to foreigners without security clearance but also allowed many foreigners into the country without visa," he added.
He said that he in 2014 cancelled the notification issued by former Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Gillani's office in 2010 authorising the then Pakistani ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani to directly issue visas to Americans without seeking approval from Islamabad.
The minister said the government has taken effective measures during the last three years regarding issuance of visas to foreigners and now the ministry is thoroughly checking and verifying every visa application before granting anyone admission to the country, including diplomats. "Now agents from foreign intelligence agencies cannot enter the country under the cover of diplomatic assignments," he said.
He said that a few years ago people used to enter Pakistan without visas and with fake documents but this will not happen anymore. Due to effective strategy of the present government, no one can enter Pakistan without proper documentation, he said. The minister said, "We have decided to separate immigration department from Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)." He said that he has directed National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to establish a centralised digital databank for issuance of visas to all foreigners through Pakistan missions across the globe. The mechanism, he said, would help the foreigners get an online visa appointment for any category of visas for travelling to Pakistan.
Nisar said that under this system visas would not be issued to foreigners without security clearance. The centralisation process will start as soon as Prime Minister House formally approves it, he added. About the issue of blasphemous contents being circulated on social media, he said the government has written letters to Arab League, OIC and other organisations concerned to raise voice against such acts and adopt a joint strategy to stop it.
"We have also talked to FBI and the US Justice Department about reservations regarding the matter and they also given assurance to address our concerns," he added. He further said, "We have blocked 45 websites and 65 Facebook pages containing blasphemous contents in Pakistan during the last two days." He said that Facebook administration has agreed to send its delegation to address Pakistan's concerns regarding the issue of blasphemy. "We are going to find a permanent solution to this issue now.
There is nothing more precious to us than our faith," he said, adding that anyone can turn violent after seeing the sacrilegious contents, he added. He said some political circles, who like social media, expressed concerns when he stated that stern action will be taken against social media and he will go to any extent if issue related to blasphemous contents is not resolved.
To a question about former President Asif Ali Zardari's announcement to hold a rally in Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar's constituency, he said that he will welcome Zardari upon his visit to Chakri and make adequate security arrangements on the occasion. "If he wants to come, I will invite him for a cup of tea in my native home," he said, adding that he has political differences with Zardari but has no personal enmity with him. However, he said that he was confident that PPPP's candidate from Chakri in the next general elections will face a humiliated defeat.