PESHAWAR, Aug 2: The federal government has declined citizenship to Indian national Dr Hafsa Aman after security agencies did not give necessary clearance, says an interior division official in Islamabad.

A section officer of the division, Jawed Habib, who was ordered to file comments by the Peshawar High Court on a writ petition filed by Aman Khan, Dr Hafsa's husband, said that granting citizenship to an applicant was subject to clearance by security agencies.

The officer, in his brief comments, stated that Dr Hafsa's case was being re-processed and she had been given a two-month extension on her stay permit. The high court stayed the deportation of Dr Hafsa and sought comments from respondents, including the interior division, Islamabad, the NWFP home department, the superintendent of police of Mardan district, and the SHO of the Hoti Mardan police station.

The court is expected to take up the petition this month. In comments filed a few days ago in the high court by the deputy attorney-general, Salahuddin Khan, the section officer had requested for one more month for filing detailed comments.

Mr Habib conceded that under Section 10(2) a foreigner wife of a Pakistani man was entitled to Pakistani citizenship, but that was subject to clearance by security agencies.

Advocate Usman Khan Tarlandi, the petitioner's counsel, stated that the section officer had been misinterpreting the law. He added that there was no provision in the Citizenship Act that granting of the citizenship would be subject to clearance from security agencies.

Mr Tarlandi questioned the statement and said how could the interior division reprocess Dr Hafsa's case after she had been declined citizenship on the grounds of security clearance.

Dr Hafsa was initially permitted to remain in Pakistan till Aug 14, 2003, through a permit issued on July 18, 2003, under the Foreigners Act 1951. The permit has since been extended thrice and it was valid up to Mar 7.

Dr Hafsa had applied for Pakistani citizenship on Aug 26, 2003, which was turned down by the interior division in February. The petitioner had later referred an application to the NWFP chief minister, which was forwarded to the interior division for re-consideration, but that was also refused on April 29.