Pak, Brit agencies divided over missing passports

ISLAMABAD - The Pakistani and British agencies are a divided lot over the investigations concerning the 100 Pakistani passports which were purportedly lost by the ritish High Commission in Islamabad.

However, a spokesman of the High Commission denied any such differences and said that they are working closely with the FIA and investigations into the case are still underway.

Sources privy to the issue said that a four-member Federal Investigations Agency (FIA) team had been investigating the matter along with United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA), but they have ended the probe after differences between the two agencies.

Meanwhile, Director General FIA Zafarullah Khan has rejected the prospect of a joint investigation, saying the agency would consider the investigation only if the British High Commission sends a request, The Dawn reports.

It is worth mentioning here that the British High Commission in Islamabad had lost around 100 Pakistani passports submitted for obtaining visas while it was shifting operations to Abu Dhabi due to security reasons.

“If terrorists get hold of these passports, they can alter them with the help of human-trafficking mafia and move freely to various countries, especially the US and UK, to carry out terror activities,” insiders said.

According to intelligence sources, the lost passports had multiple visas of various western countries that can be tampered with easily by the militants.

Even after almost a month, British officials have failed to determine the exact number of passports lost and as to what the agencies were doing to prevent the extremists from taking advantage of the situation. (ANI)