Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir regrets insinuations contained in press reports on alleged “visa scam”

(2011-01-24)

Commenting on the slander campaign against the Foreign Ministry, the Foreign Secretary said that a formal inquiry had been ordered into the allegations. It was important to sift the allegation from facts. However, the insinuations contained in these press reports are neither warranted nor justified and are forcefully refuted.

The Foreign Secretary said that it was preposterous to implicate the leadership in the so-called “visa scam”. This only reflects the evident motivations behind these reports.

The Foreign Secretary said that besides the internal inquiry, the Foreign Ministry will take all other appropriate steps in the matter.

No matter what personal or political motivations, any attempt to run down an important State institution in the matter that has been done only serves the interests of those inimical to Pakistan and, to say the least, is regrettable.

Islamabad
24 January 2011

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