Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Federal Interior Minister, Tuesday said that he has not handed any documents to the British authorities regarding Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) or its supremo Altaf Hussain.
“I only talked to British High Commissioner about a case registered against Altaf Hussain in Pakistan and record of his speeches,” Nisar said while addressing a press conference here Tuesday.
The interior minister’s statement came a day after MQM chief Altaf Hussain claimed Chaudhry Nisar handed over some documents to British authorities regarding him and his party.
He said that MQM is a political party and it should continue its role as all its voters are patriotic Pakistanis.
To a question regarding putting names of MQM leaders on Exit Control List (ECL), the interior minister said that no one was put on ECL without proofs.
Nisar also confirmed that a 30-day stay of execution for Shafqat Hussain, who was allegedly condemned to death as a teenager.
Hussain’s case has attracted international attention as his lawyers and family claim he was only 15 at the time of the killing.
The interior minister said a committee of FIA has been set up to try to determine Hussain’s true age.
“We have not received any proof from anybody about his age, all the fuss is being made in the media,” Chaudhry Nisar said.
“We have to ensure justice not only for Shafqat but for the boy who was brutally killed and his body dumped in a Karachi river,” he added
To a question, the minister said more than 8500 people were on the Exit Control List (ECL) and some of them were on it for 15 to 20 years.
A new ECL policy would be announced in coming days and only those could be put on the list for a maximum period of three years for involvement only in heinous crimes.
The minister said many persons on the ECL held double passports for being involved in criminal activities and for avoiding visa refusal.
Relaxation was given that a person who willingly surrenders his passport would not be punished, he said adding now the misuse of passport would not occur again.
To another question, the minister said killing of Mullah Fazlullah could not be verified yet.
