WASHINGTON, Jan 15: The Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, during his visit to Chicago on Tuesday said that the president and foreign minister have raised the INS issue during telephone conversations with their counterparts.

Mr Qazi also said that he too had taken up the registration issue during his meetings at the National Security Council and the departments of state and justice.

The ambassador’s visit to Chicago was part of the embassy’s outreach programme, which previously included similar meetings with Pakistanis in New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Houston and Dallas.

He apprised the community about the measures being taken by the government of Pakistan to assist its nationals regarding the special registration process initiated by the US Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).

The ambassador enumerated the steps taken by the Pakistani embassy and consulates to assist the community members all over the United States.

The regional deputy director of the INS and immigration lawyers were also present during the ambassador’s meeting with the Pakistanis.

Earlier, the chairman of the Pakistani-American Association of North America (PAANA), in his welcome address, appealed to the ambassador to urge President Gen Pervez Musharraf to approach the US government and seek the removal of Pakistan from the INS registration list.

He also highlighted the fact that the Pakistani community in US comprised hard-working, law-abiding, tax-paying and family oriented people.

He thanked the ambassador on behalf of the community for the efforts of the government and the embassy.

The regional deputy director of the Immigration and Naturalization Service speaking on the occasion assured them that during the registration process the INS officials would deal in a just, fair and humane manner.

The meeting was followed by question-answer session during which a number of queries were put forward for replies. The INS deputy director and immigration lawyers guided many of the questioners on the specifics of their legal situations.—APP