Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Attempt to re-enter Pakistan by black listed and deported US national Mathew in fake travel document was again foiled and he was arrested along with FIA official Raja Ehtesham who supported the US national to return Pakistan on fake travelling documents.

FIA took prompt action, arrested Mathew and shifted him to immigration cell.

Taking serious not of the incident Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan suspended all immigration staff working in morning shift at airport.

Interior ministry has also constituted a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) under supervision of Additional Secretary Interior Ministry to investigate the matter and present its report to interior minister within 24 hours despite weekly holiday on Sunday.

The JIT comprising FIA, IB and ISI officers will be led by SSP investigation Capt (Retd) Ilyas.

The other accomplice of FIA official has fled and FIA is conducting raids to arrest him while a female officer working in Pakistan Commission in Houston has also been nominated in the case for issuing visa to Mathew. The US national Mathew arrived at Benazir Bhutto International Airport by making wrong entry on landing card. FIA arrested Mathew and shifted him to immigration cell.

Case has been registered against Raja Ehtesham ul Haq, FIA official and his father Raja Asif for abetting the US national in connection with his clearance from respective authorities. Ehtesham ul Haq who was present on duty was arrested immediately while his father Raja Asif made good escape from the scene. Raids are being conducted to arrest him.

The investigation conducted by FIA revealed that US national entered into Pakistan in connivance with FIA sub inspector Raja Asif and his son Raj Ehtesham ul Haq. FIA authorities said that the US national who was arrested from airport was Mathew who was deported from Pakistan for his involvement in suspicious activities in 2011. He was arrested in June, 2011 for attempting to enter into sensitive areas in Fateh Jang and was deported and was black listed for life time. Pakistan mission operating in Houston had issued visa to Mathew and he had filed incorrect documents for obtaining visa. The officer who has issued visa to Mathew has also been nominated in the case.

Rawalpindi court has granted 3 days physical remand of Mathew and Ehtesham ul Haq to FIA.

When Daily Times drawn the attention of US Embassy Spokesperson Chris Snipes towards the arrest of the American national, he replied that the Privacy Act prohibits them from releasing any information about American citizens without their consent.