Islamabad: Pakistan’s Interior Ministry has categorically denied having issued any visa to the notorious US security firm Blackwater, as claimed by Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah.
“This is a totally false, ill-founded and concocted statement made by Sanaullah with ulterior motives best known to him,” the Daily Times quoted an Interior Ministry spokesman, as saying.
He also said that according to the records available with the government, no such company was registered or operating in the country.
The Interior Ministry would appreciate if the Punjab law minister presents evidence to substantiate his claim to the concerned section officer of the ministry, he added.
The spokesman further clarified that there was a proper process for the issuance of visas to foreigners in all categories.
Applications are received from the Foreign Ministry in most of the cases, and these are vetted by the agencies for clearance. Some of the visas are also issued by the respective Pakistani missions abroad, he added.
The Interior Ministry has instructed its legal consultant to serve a legal notice to Sanaullah for the issuance of what it termed a malicious, malafide and scandalous statement, which would create distrust amongst the citizens of Pakistan about the functions of the ministry.
Sanaullah had earlier said that Interior Minister Rehman Malik had issued visas to Blackwater agents and that he was responsible for Blackwater activities in Pakistan.
ANI
