Interior Minister takes notice of Dean Jones' Pakistan arrival without visa
He said action must be taken against violators even if it's a foreign airline
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar on Sunday took notice of Australian ex-cricketer Dean Jones for arriving in Pakistan without a valid visa and ordered action against the offending foreign airliner, Dunya News reported.
The federal minister said no foreigner can enter Pakistan without visa, adding that the time of blatant disregard of Pakistani laws without anyone noticing is over.
According to details, Chaudhry Nisar took strict notice of violation of the laws. He said Pakistan International Airline is made to adhere to laws in foreign countries, adding that foreign airlines must also adhere to the same laws.
The federal minister said that the action must be taken against violators even if it’s a foreign airline.
Directing strict action against the foreign airliner, Ch Nisar said the impression that the Interior Ministry can allow anyone into Pakistan without visa is strictly wrong, adding that no foreigner can enter Pakistan without proper documentation.
“Those desirous of traveling to Pakistan have to adhere to the international and Pakistani travel laws and regulations,” he said.
“The time has gone when rules and regulations were blatantly disregarded and no one cared.”
Dean Jones ‘deported’
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) responsible for immigration at all international airports of the country says that Jones was deported because he did not hold a valid visa.
According to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the cricketer was having no travel documents including visa due to which he was barred from coming out of Benazir International Airport in Islamabad.
Jones was deported to Australia by a flight this noon, the officials confirmed.
Islamabad United is one of the five franchises of country’s first T20 tournament Pakistan Super League (PSL) that is scheduled in February 2016.
Jones admits to having incomplete paperwork
In a tweet, Jones admitted to having lack of complete paperwork for the Pakistani visa but insisted it was due to a ‘change’ in the visa policy. He then insisted in the same tweet he holds a valid Pakistani visa and dismissed the media reports.
Ok cricket fans.. My paperwork for Pakistan Visa wasn t complete due to recent change in VIsa policy. I have Visa.. NOT DEPORTED as reported
— Dean Jones (@ProfDeano) December 20, 2015
The Aussie ex-cricketer also retweeted a statement attributed to Pakistani consulate in Australia claiming Jones has valid visa.
@ProfDeano Holds a valid visa for entry to Pakistan. @IsbUnited
— Pakistan In Sydney (@CGPakSYD) December 20, 2015
However the Twitter account to which the statement was attributed is not the official Twitter account of the consulate.
