Interior Minister Rehman Malik has ordered the formation of a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe into the alleged theft of 5,634 passports from the Karachi office of the Travel Agents’ Association. The investigation team will also look into the security aspects and the possible involvement of staff in the scandal.
The minister also ordered the JIT to investigate under what authority such a large number of passports were kept in the premises without adequate security.
Malik ordered the Immigration and Passports director general for cancelling the missing passports and asked for a compliance report within 24 hours and directed NADRA and passport offices to facilitate the victims of the theft urgently.
Earlier, Shahid Malik, Pakistan’s high commissioner to India, called on the Interior minister before proceeding to New Delhi.
Both the leaders discussed ongoing trial of the Mumbai attacks suspects and the 4th SAARC Interior Ministers’ Conference to be held in Thimphu, Bhutan, in July.
Separately, Zubaydullo Zubaydov, ambassador of Tajikistan, met Minister for Interior Malik in Islamabad and discussed matters of mutual interest.
