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Kulsoom case: LHC calls passport official

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Mr. Justice Allah Nawaz of the Lahore High Court directed Assistant Director of Passport Office, Lahore, to appear before the court on January 27 in a petition filed by the Pakistan Lawyers' Forum (PLF) praying to the court to direct the respondent authorities to return the passport of Kulsoom Nawaz, wife of deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

The court passed these directions when the law officer contended before the court that Kulsoom Nawaz had approached the Lahore Passport Office Assistant Director for her ordinary passport and mentioned in her application that her previous diplomatic passport was lost/missing.

He said the petitioner's version taken before the court was totally wrong and baseless.

He, however, contended that according to the Visa and Passport manual a diplomatic passport could not be replaced by a new passport before clearance from the Foreign Ministry.

He said the officials concerned of the Lahore passport office had sent a summary to the Interior Ministry for this purpose and the Interior Ministry sent the same to the Foreign Ministry.

He said the Foreign Ministry had not replied so far and we were waiting for its reply.

Presenting PLF the counsel contended that the respondent officials had got the passport in question in their illegal custody after November 12 when Nawaz Sharif government was taken over by the military.

He said now the said passport is with the Interior Secretary and contended that under the law he could not keep the same with him for more than 14 days.

He, therefore, prayed to the court to direct the respondent officials to return the passport in question.

The court after hearing the petitioner's counsel and the law officer directed the Assistant Director of Passport office Lahore to appear before the court on January 27.