ISLAMABAD, 10 April 2005 — Pakistani visa seekers are facing problems because of tight security around the Diplomatic Enclave here as all entry points to the enclave have been blocked for security reasons.
Nowadays visa seekers can only visit the enclave by the Diplomatic Shuttle Transport Service (DSTS) and that too after getting prior appointment from the concerned embassy.
The shuttle service starts from the Convention Center where commuters have to leave all their baggage excluding the required documents.
These security steps were adopted by the local administration after the bomb attack on a church located in the Diplomatic Enclave in 2002.
The attack left seven people dead and several injured. The bombing was reportedly carried out by Al-Qaeda to avenge its defeat in Afghanistan.
Earlier all entry points to the enclave were manned with Frontier Constabulary personnel but were later blocked and the shuttle service was started. Visa seekers have many complaints against this new system, though they are not against taking security measures to protect foreign diplomats.
Muhammad Nazir Mughal who had come with his two daughters to visit the British High Commission termed the whole process disgusting.
“The government should take steps for the security of foreign diplomats in Islamabad but at the same time it should also keep the convenience of visa seekers in mind.”
Inam Ghani, senior superintendent of police and head of the Diplomatic Protection Department, said there was no chance of reducing security restrictions in the near future.
“Almost all embassies of big countries, including the US, UK, UAE and others, were entertaining applications through couriers to avoid inconvenience to visa seekers. They only call select people after evaluating applications,” he added.
Rights Group Defends Female Race
A human rights group yesterday criticized radicals for opposing women’s participation in marathons, a week after extremists stoned runners during a race in Pakistan.
Iqbal Haider of the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said there was nothing wrong with women and men participating together in races, and urged Islamic groups “to show flexibility.” Hundreds of supporters from the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) threw stones last Sunday at men, women and children participating in a three-kilometer race in Gujranwala, an industrial city in eastern Punjab province.
