Interior Minister Mohin Naqvi announced that the government would ask Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (PTI) to reconsider its protest scheduled for February 8, but if the party refuses, the State will take the necessary measures.
Naqvi made these remarks during his visit to the Mega Passport Center on Peco Road in Lahore.
In response to a question, the Minister of the Interior recalled that a similar request was made to PTI on November 26, and another request will be submitted before the demonstration of February 8. “If they still refuse, the state will be forced to intervene,” he added.
Naqvi also declared that the backwards of passport requests had been resolved a month ago, and in collaboration with the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), 14 new passport offices are created across the country, with three Additional centers in Lahore, and the Shimla Pahari center has also been improved to meet growing demand.
Addressing the question of the Passport Authority, Naqvi expressed his commitment to his rapid establishment, stressing that the creation of a dedicated organization would rationalize the passport emission processes. “We have already discussed it with the Prime Minister, and the plan is in motion,” he said.
With regard to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the Minister of the Interior has referred to major reforms in the coming days, in particular to solve the problems faced by legal travelers in airports.
“People traveling abroad through appropriate channels should not be harassed in airports,” he noted, stressing that FIA and customs will suffer major changes.
On the subject of illegal migration, Naqvi has recognized the continuous challenge of people who try to go to Europe and other continents via illegal routes, such as boat accidents. “We take strict measures in immigration meters to prevent such illegal activities,” he said.
The Minister of the Interior also stressed that regions such as Gujarat and the Faisalabad division had experienced a significant increase in attempts to travel illegally. Consequently, changes in the FIA will be implemented to combat these problems more effectively.
While Naqvi expressed his support for the Pakistanis legally traveling abroad, he assured that the persons involved in illegal immigration or the country’s tenure would face serious consequences. Although he cannot guarantee the complete eradication of agent Mafia, he assured that a complete strategy was designed to launch a major repression soon.
Naqvi also talked about his recent visit to the United States, expressing the confidence that the positive results of the visit would soon become obvious when he underlined strong relations between the Pakistani and American governments, mentioning productive meetings with the members of the Congress American and senators, who will bear fruit in the future.
