Islamabad:
Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khanum, said Friday that the children of the former prime minister had requested Pakistani visas and expected the authorization of the Ministry of Interior before a planned visit.
Taking X, Aleema declared: “A few days ago, Suleiman [Khan] and Kasim [Khan] He requested his visas with the high commission of Pakistan in London. The ambassador has suggested that he is waiting for the approval of the Ministry of Interior in Islamabad. “
However, the Interior Ministry refuted Aleem’s claims regarding visa requests for Imran’s children, saying that the Ministry was not considering such applications.
According to sources from the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry was currently processing or reviewing visa requests related to the children of Imran Khan. They clarified that the issuance of family visas, or any type of visa, for the case, does not fall under the scope of the Ministry of Interior.
“The statement that the Ministry of Interior is dealing with the matter of the visa is contrary to the facts,” said a source to Express PAkGazette. The official added that such visas are under the jurisdiction of the high commissions of Pakistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
His comments also caused a pointed response from the Minister of State for the Interior Talal Chaudhry, who dismissed with his previous statement that the brothers already owned national identity cards for Pakistani abroad (Nicop).
He questioned the need for a visa if they were, in fact, Pakistani nationals. “If you need visas, that means they are not ‘national Pakistani.’ What is the real truth behind everything?” asked.
It is pertinent to note that Aleem had previously insisted that the children of Imran Khan were “citizens of Pakistan” and “definitely” would come to visit him in prison, citing his status of Nicop. “If something happened to Imran’s children, it would become an international matter,” he told the journalists previously.
Earlier this week, the PTI had categorically denied the reports of the media that suggested that the incarcerated founder of the party had told journalists in the Adiala prison that their children would not come to Pakistan or participate in any protest.
While the government has not yet issued an official statement on the matter, Chaudhry had previously questioned what political role, if any, the two children could assume. However, he said they were welcome to visit and assured that there would be no impediment in their entrance.
“Visas would be issued in less than 24 hours,” he said, “whenever they stayed within the law.”
