PESHAWAR: A group of people, including women, on Monday held a protest demonstration against the delay in issuance of visas from the Afghan Consulate and demanded of the government to help them get their passports back.

The visa seekers had gathered outside the Peshawar Press Club, shouting slogans for resolution of their demands. “We have deposited our passports for visa but we are not allowed to enter the premises of the consulate at least to collect our passports,” a protester said.

The protesters said they were serving in private firms in different parts of Afghanistan and had to return before the expiry of leave, adding the delay in issuance of visas might deprive them of their jobs. They suggested that in case the consulate was closed in protest it should at least return their passports so they could use other options for reaching their destinations.

The protesters demanded of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to take up the issue with the relevant officials. They also demanded that the period should be extended from three to six months in visas so they could easily continue their jobs in the neighbouring country.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2019