ISLAMABAD: Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Defence Production retired Lt-Gen Abdul Qayyum could not fly to the US to attend an Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting being held under the auspices of United Nations because of an inordinate delay in issuance of a visa by the American embassy.

Informed sources told Dawn that the senator, who also happens to be member of Pak-US parliamentary group, was told that his application was still under process by homeland security department.

The sources said a strong Indian lobby had played a role in delaying issuance of visa to the senior lawmaker and experienced general.

Mr Qayyum had plans to meet representatives from different countries on the sidelines of the meeting to brief them about the baseless Indian propaganda following Pulwama attack to divert world’s attention from the blatant human rights violations in India occupied Kashmir.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2019