The Pakistan Embassy in Washington issued a response on Wednesday addressing allegations of visa denials to US citizens of Pakistani origin due to their affiliations with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), terming such assertions as “misinformation and disinformation”.
The matter came to light following recent media reports alleging that the Pakistan Embassy had declined visas to American nationals of Pakistani origin on the grounds of their association with the PTI.
They stated that certain US citizens had been apprehended in Pakistan for their involvement in political activities.
Referring to a question asked during the daily press briefing of the US Department of State, the spokesperson of the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington DC stated that there was no truth to the rumours about denial of visas to Pakistani Americans or request for visas being “rejected”.
Important 🔈:
“The Embassy dispels any rumors about visa rejections for Pakistani-Americans.
The Embassy continues to offer seamless visa assistance to Pakistani-Americans and Overseas Pakistanis. “ 🇵🇰🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/cR8hv2NBRG— Pakistan Embassy US (@PakinUSA) September 6, 2023
“This is a misinformation and disinformation,” he said.
He said that Pakistani-Americans, and other overseas Pakistanis, are “most welcome” to visit their motherland, Pakistan, and the embassy continues to provide every possible consular assistance, including visas, to them.
“We encourage Pakistani-Americans to visit Pakistan either on their NICOP or get visas, if they so desire, from the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington DC or from our four Consulates General in New York, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles. Besides, visa requests are also processed online 24/7. Therefore, there should be no cause for concern,” he further said.
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On Tuesday, the US State Department had clarified that the authority to approve or decline a visa request by a US citizen rested with the consular officials at the Pakistan Embassy, emphasising that this decision was not within their jurisdiction.
“I am not aware of this,” said the department’s Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel when asked about the US citizens who were allegedly denied visas approached the State Department. “Obviously, if there are any issues that arise in this area, certainly it would be something for Pakistani consular officials to speak to and not anything that relates to the State Department,” he added.