Passport crisis: ‘Rehman Malik ordered director to award tender to ‘favourite’ firm’

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Holding former bosses of the Interior Ministry responsible for the delay in issuance of passports, Immigration and Passports Office Director General Zulfiqar Cheema on Tuesday apprised the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that former interior minister Rehman Malik, in violation of all rules and laws and for wanting to award the tender of supply of laminate patches for passports to his “favourite” company had caused a delay in the process that in turn provided an opportunity to the mafia to exploit passport seekers and take bribes to the tune of Rs 25,000 for issuance of a single passport.

Justice Shaukat Aziz Saddiqui of the IHC resumed hearing into the case filed by a French company against the award of the tender to an American firm.

Cheema, who was appointed by the interim government with the task to pull the Immigration and Passport Office out of the severe crisis, appeared before the court on notice.

Cheema told the court that on the directions of the Interior Ministry, the passport office had also issued hundreds of blue passports to unauthorised people.

“Even cycle-puncture menders were issued blue passports on the orders of the Interior Ministry,” he said, adding however that after assuming charge, he had ordered the cancellation of all such passports and “operation cleansing” was underway.

He said the former interior minister wanted to award the tender to his “favourite” company, adding that Malik had summoned the project director to his house and directed him to award the tender to that company.

The newly-appointed DG further submitted that when he assumed charge, the passport office was about to be closed down. However, Cheema said to ease the backlog, he got the prime minister’s approval to keep purchasing lamination papers from the firm, which had been providing the lamination papers since 2004. “The passport office’s performance is now improving.”

Meanwhile, the American company also requested the court to provide it a chance to become party to the case.

Upon this, the court accepted its request and adjourned further proceedings until May 28.

Sameer Baig, a representative of Reliance International, through his counsel Salman Akram Raja, had alleged that the Interior Ministry had awarded a contract worth billions of rupees to “their favourite” firm.

According to the petition, the DGIP on February 19 had invited requests for proposals (RFP) from the pre-qualified firms including the petitioner’s company. The petition also alleged that the passport office authorities violated several clauses of procurement rules to clear the way for awarding the contract.

7 COMMENTS

  1. Does this news surprise anyone? Its just the tip of the iceburg. I'm surprised that nobody has implicated him in BB's murder yet. Lets be honest. He had her killed on zardari's orders. And thats the truth!!!

    • No,no surprise here,one by one they will all pay,first Raja rental and now Malik,Im waiting for the day when the immunity will not save the leader mans hyde hahahahahahahahahaha.delete this comment too PT

  2. This was not possible without the consent of ex DG passport and immigration office.After taking orders from ministry he has to act accordingly and he is real advisor to minister what is right or wrong as per state laws.This is very awful to see that all blame are put on ministers and all bureaucracy vanish from scene as it has no role in such national crimes.

  3. Even at this time one of my relative has got her passport by giving 80,000 rs.It is all being done under the nose of Zulfiqr cheema whose honesty cant be questioned even in worst era of corrupt bureaucracy,

    • Now you can question Zulfiqr Cheema honesty easily, why he has not adopted a transparent procedure for printing of passport ??????

  4. cheema sb at least give priority to ordinary passport applicants , after all they also human beings, Do you know after December 12th 2012 no ordinary passport is issued , is it their crime that they have applied with ordinary fees.
    They are also needy of passport.
    By this forum we request you to advise the concerned for printing of ordinary passports.

  5. cheema sb plz give the order to make the ordionry pasport we need to urgant we will submit this pasport applicant 4 month ago plz…. u pasport issue ordnory tii date 28 decembr plz make ordoniry pasport till mont of may ………

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