More than 4,000 Pakistani passports cancelled over Saudi complaint

Pakistan has revoked the passports of over 4,000 individuals following their repatriation after Saudi Arabia accused them of engaging in begging at several places in the Kingdom.

This decisive action was taken by the Ministry of Interior Affairs to issues activities that damage Pakistan’s reputation abroad.

The move was disclosed during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee, chaired by MNA Raja Khurram Nawaz.

The Minister of State for Interior Affairs, Talat Chaudhry, briefed the meeting that Saudi Arabia had sent a list of 4,300 Pakistanis involved in beggary and other criminal activities. Their passports were cancelled after they were brought back to Pakistan.

Read: Pakistan to prosecute deportee beggars from Gulf States under ATC law

Jamshed Dasti expressed concern about the country's situation, noting that the Director General was continuously being replaced in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, yet no improvements were being made in investigations.

Talal Chaudhry, while responding to Dasti’s remarks, stated that it is easy to criticise, but if someone has a passport and a family visa, how can this be prevented?

“We have now started the process of advanced profiling. We are also going to introduce a new law regarding beggars so that cases can be registered and punishments imposed against returning beggars,” he said.

Read: Pakistan to block passports of deported citizens 

Raja Khurram stressed the need to strengthen institutions to prevent illegal immigration, noting that passengers may leave through legal means but resort to illegal methods to reach their destinations.

Moreover, he informed the standing committee that the ministry was working on limiting the issuance of arms licenses to specific individuals, stating that prohibited bore licenses would be offered on the recommendation of parliamentarians.