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| July 19, 2002 | Friday | Jamadi-ul-Awwal 8, 1423 |
Wrestler expelled for tampering passport
KARACHI, July 18: Pakistan was forced to expel a wrestler from its Commonwealth Games squad Thursday after Britain rejected his visa application because he had tampered with his passport, Pakistan’s sport chief said.
“Wrestler Mohammad Omar is no more part of the Games contingent after his visa application was rejected by the British High Commission,” Pakistan Sports Board director Brigadier Saulat Abbas told AFP.
He said there had been “tampering” with the passport, but declined to discuss the alterations.
The Games will be held in Manchester, England, from July 25 to August 4.
“Its unfortunate that we have lost a member and can’t have his replacement as entries have already been sent to the organisers,” he said.
The 26-year-old Omar, from Gujranwala, reportedly tried to alter his passport with a pencil, but it was detected by the British High Commission when visa applications were made for the Pakistan contingent for the Games.
Pakistan’s 74-member contingent will fly to England Saturday and Abbas said there had been no other visa problems.
“We are thankful to the British High Commission staff for issuing prompt visas enabling us to send the contingent in time,” he said.
The commission is working with reduced staff after security fears in Pakistan forced the foreign missions to send their non-essential staff home last month.—AFP
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