KARACHI – After the Raymond Davis fiasco in Lahore, the Sindh government has decided to maintain personal and travel data of all foreigners in the province in an attempt to keep a check on their movement and avert a Davis-like episode, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Sources told Pakistan Today that from now on, the Home Department will recheck the visit schedule to Sindh of all diplomats, foreign journalists and representatives of foreign-funded NGOs with the Foreign Affairs Ministry. The move, the Home Department believes, will help in ensuring proper monitoring of all foreigners visiting Sindh, and help the authorities concerned to not only provide them with proper security but also monitor any suspicious activity.
According to the standard operating procedures, a foreign diplomat or a mission applies to the Foreign Affairs Ministry for permission to visit any part of the country. The applicants are then vetted and clearance granted accordingly, sources explained. “In recent days, foreigners – diplomats, foreign journalists and members of foreign-funded NGOs – have increased their trips to Sindh in areas that are close to strategic sites and facilities,” sources claimed.
“These visits cannot be monitored due to a lack of coordination between local administrations and the Foreign Affairs Ministry.” The Sindh government is also drafting a law to ban the practice of renting out property to foreign nationals residing in the province. “The Home Department, in consultation with the Law Department, is preparing the draft of the new law. The process is in its final stages,” the sources claimed.
They said that only foreign nationals who get permission from the Home Department will be able to rent property once the new law is enforced. The idea to impose a permanent ban came after police and law enforcement agencies’ personnel apprehended a large number of illegal immigrants from various areas of the city and other parts of the province, sources claimed.
After promulgation of the new law, the station house officer (SHO) of every area would be responsible for monitoring property rentals and strict action would be initiated against those found involved in violating the government’s decision, sources added.
A new cell called the Special Foreigners’ Monitoring Cell will also be established by the Home Department, which would collect data from law enforcement agencies regarding entry of foreigners into the province, sources claimed, adding that in some areas of the city, prior permission was being sought from union councils concerned or welfare association of the area regarding handing property on rent.
