In-focus

Pakistan

The Sun visa allegations are rubbish: Pak Olympic chief

Dunya News

Pakistani sports officials Monday rubbished claims by a UK paper to have uncovered a visa scam.

The Sun tabloid said it had busted a racket involving a politician in the eastern city of Lahore that could have given access to the London Games as part of the Pakistani contingent in return for a million rupees ($10,000).Pakistans Olympic chef de mission Aqil Shah dismissed the Suns claims.These are baseless reports, Shah told AFP. This is an attempt to malign Pakistan. Even if someone gets a passport he cannot enter the Olympic Village without an Olympic accreditation card.The Sun said its undercover reporter was offered the chance to go to the Olympics posing as an official member of the Pakistani contingent on a two-month visa.Pakistans 39-strong delegation -- minus Shah -- is already in London and consists of 23 athletes and 16 officials.Shah justified the number of officials.Hockey has at least six officials which are under the rules and then we have physicians and other coaches who are genuine members of Pakistans contingent, said Shah.Pakistan Olympic Association chief Arif Hasan was already in London and discussing the matter with the Pakistan High Commission, said Shah.