No ban on Fazlur Rehman to enter Britian: UK HC
60 viewsBy jazbablog - Wed Nov 24, 6:57 pm
ISLAMABAD: United Kingdom High Commissioner to Pakistan, Robert Adam Thomson has clarified that there is no prohibition on entry of Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI) chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman in United Kingdom. However, he said that they have right to reject visa of any person who is involved in propagation of hatred based material and speeches.
Addressing a press conference at British High Commission here on Wednesday, Adam Thomson said that the United Kingdom has announced to reduce the work permits and immigration cases from outside the European Union due to prevailing financial and economic situation of the country. The UK government decided to introduce an annual limit of 21,700 reducing from 100, 000 in work permit and immigration visas.
He informed the media persons that United Kingdom had issued more than one lakh work permits last year, in which 2851 were issued to Pakistan including 1951 high skilled and 900 simple skilled people. The Great Britain is seriously taking the steps to stop the human trafficking, adding he said that these are global measures which affect all non-European Union countries and not specific to Pakistan.
Adam Thomson said that such decision is not meant to target Pakistan; however same procedure is being practiced in other countries of the world. He further said that these procedures to reduce the visas would be reviewed annually and no specific quota would be fixed for any country. The Britain has also reviewed the procedures of visa system and under the new policy visit visa would be issued within seven days while business visas would be awarded within five days. However, he stated that there is no programme to bring back visa section form Abu-Dhabi.
The British High Commissioner explaining the case of cricketer, Zulqarnain Haider said that the matters regarding allowing political asylum are underway and their laws are quite clear in this regard. He also uttered that an independent inquiry of the murder of Dr. Imran Farooq is underway.
Responding to a query, Adam Thomson rejected the impression that Pakistanis are being targeted in United Kingdom; however they would deport all illegal people including Pakistani, Indian and Afghan citizens.
Regarding Asia Bibi case, the British envoy said that it is internal matter of Pakistan and they would dispose it according to local laws. He also stated that Ansar Barni had right to express his views; withal UK had not banned the entry of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, he reiterated.
