Decision to halt issuance of passports to asylum seekers withdrawn

ISLAMABAD: In a major reversal of a recent policy, a high-level meeting at the Foreign Office on Monday decided to withdraw its earlier decision to halt the issuance of Pakistani passports to individuals seeking political asylum abroad.

No reason was given officially for the reversal of the decision which had been criticised by Pakistanis abroad, many of who had been in exile. The matter was taken up by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar who chaired the meeting to discuss a number of important issues relating to welfare of overseas Pakistanis.

Participants included the foreign secretary, interior secretary, director general IMPASS and senior officials of the ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs. “The meeting discussed in detail the recent policy decision that was taken vide circular dated 5 June 2024 for not issuing passport to any individual who had sought asylum or already living on asylum abroad. It was decided to reverse the policy decision with immediate effect and to withdraw the circular of 5 June 2024,” said the Foreign Office.

Issues related to delays in issuance of passports to Pakistanis living abroad were also discussed. Secretary Interior and Director General IMPASS briefed the deputy prime minister about the ongoing efforts to streamline the process.

“It was decided that the Ministry of Interior and IMPASS will take immediate necessary steps to upgrade the infrastructure/ equipment within the next 45 days and to fast track the clearance of the entire backlog relating to issuance of passports to overseas Pakistanis,” added the Foreign Office.

Meanwhile, Pakistan welcomed the Advisory Opinion by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the “Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.”

“The ICJ’s ruling clearly establishes that Israel’s unlawful policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory are in breach of Israel’s obligation to respect the right of Palestinian people to self-determination, and that Israel is under an obligation to end its unlawful occupation; cease its illegal settlement activities; and to make reparation for the damage caused,” said the Foreign Office.

It may be recalled that Pakistan had made a written submission to the ICJ on the case in July 2023, and later also shared a rejoinder with the court. Pakistan also participated in the oral public hearing held by the ICJ on the case in February 2024. In its submissions to the ICJ, Pakistan reiterated its strong and unwavering support for the right to self-determination of the Palestinians and highlighted the illegality of the Israeli occupation.

“Pakistan calls for the immediate and full implementation of the Court’s Advisory Opinion. We hope that the Court’s ruling will be an important step towards ending the Israeli occupation, realisation of the inalienable right of the Palestinians to self-determination, and creation of a viable, secure, contiguous and sovereign State of Palestine on the basis of the pre-1967 borders and with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital,” pointed out the Foreign Office.

During a telephone call Foreign Minister Dar extended Pakistan’s full support to Oman in its efforts to combat terrorism while appreciating Oman’s support in repatriation of dead bodies to Pakistan and taking care of wounded/ injured Pakistani nationals in Omani hospitals.

The foreign minister was speaking to his counterpart of the Sultanate of Oman, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi, in which they discussed the recent terrorist attack on Imam Bargah Ali bin Abu Talib in Wadi Kabir in Muscat while emphasising the importance of concerted action to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

The two leaders reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, ranging from political, economic and defence cooperation to people-people exchanges. The foreign minister welcomed the forthcoming visit of a delegation of Omani investors to Pakistan later this week, geared towards exploring areas of mutually beneficial economic cooperation.

The two leaders also shared views on a range of regional and international issues of mutual interest. Exchange of visits at the leadership as well as the foreign ministerial level was agreed, in principle, with mutually convenient dates to be worked out through diplomatic channels.