Nisar orders action against Emirates for flying Jones to Pak without visa

Jones says was not deported; his paperwork was incomplete due to recent changes in visa policy

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Khan has directed the authorities for taking action against Emirates airline for bringing former Australian cricketer Dean Jones to Pakistan without a visa.

In a statement on Sunday, the interior minister said that like PIA, which is made to obey the rules of foreign countries, the same should be applied to foreign airlines in Pakistan. He made it clear that no foreigner could enter Pakistan without a visa and rejected the impression that the interior ministry can permit entry to anyone without a visa.

Chaudhry Nisar emphasised that everyone must understand that those interested in coming to Pakistan, and the airlines bringing them, will have to follow Pakistani laws, and internal travel rules and regulations.  He said the times have gone when rules and laws were violated and nobody questioned anything. He said the honour`; laws and sovereignty of Pakistan would be protected at all cost.

The interior minister also took notice of a woman travelling from Lahore to Dubai on the passport of her son. Sources said that action has been taken against FIA officials responsible for the mishap.

Earlier, former Australian Test cricketer and newly appointed head coach of Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Islamabad United, Dean Jones, was deported Sunday by authorities after he landed at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport in Islamabad.

A Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) official said that Jones had come to Pakistan to attend PSL’s logo-unveiling ceremony scheduled for today, but did not have a ‘valid visa’ for Pakistan.

The official added that Jones has been coming to Pakistan regularly for his commentating job with PTV Sports and that he is “welcome as long as his visa is valid.”

“He arrived without Pakistani visa and no permission letter of VOA, BVOA, and LP was sent by Interior to wave the visa condition. In present case deportation of the said person was the only option left with FIA immigration, thus he has been deported.”

However, Jones said on Twitter that he was “not deported” and will be coming to Lahore later tonight. He said he held a visa and that his “paperwork was incomplete due to recent changes in visa policy.”

Meanwhile, Jones landed at the Lahore airport later in the evening. He told reporters upon his arrival that he did have the paperwork but it was incomplete due to recent changes in the visa policy.