ISLAMABAD: The government has added former Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Justice Rana Shamim’s name to the Provincial National Identity List (PNIL), banning his foreign travel.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said Shamim had been placed on the list so that he “doesn’t run away”.
“There will also be a meeting to deliberate on their placement on the exit control list,” he added.
Speaking about other decisions taken by the government, the interior minister said that it will introduce an e-passport system by early 2022 that will help people avoid the hassle of manual systems.
He told the media that the Director General of Immigration and Passports has been directed to ensure the introduction of e-passports in the next 100 days.
The Minister said that the Directorate is providing online passport facility to more than 190 countries.
Other services like cancellation of citizenship and emergency travel documents are also available online.
Rasheed in his briefing also urged government officials from foreign missions who stayed to return to the country as soon as possible, warning them that otherwise they would be dismissed from service.
Further, he told the media that the government is fully focused to ensure the implementation of the National Action Plan, adding that those who have defamed the country will be dealt with strictly.
The minister said the government can give emergency travel documents to PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif within 24 hours if he is ready to return to Pakistan to face trial.
He said he had asked the Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to crack down on those involved in money laundering, especially to break the chain of dollar hoarders.
He suggested the multi-party opposition coalition Pakistan Democratic Movement to change the date of march towards Islamabad from 23 to 30 March.
The core headquarters of the Corps are located on the Grand Trunk Road and the weapons of war for the Pakistan Day Parade were transported through the same route, so it is better for the PDM to review the date of their ong march, he said.
Rasheed said the government would respond positively to the march if the PDM did not disturb law and order in the federal capital during its protest.
Responding to a question, he said there was no consensus among the opposition coalition on the date of the Long March, adding that it had announced an anti-inflationary march to gain cheap publicity.
He commented critically, “How can people who don’t agree on a date remove PM Imran Khan.”