ISLAMABAD: The government has approved yet another amnesty scheme for holders of multiple passports which allows them to get their additional passports canceled and avoid a jail term under the law.

Informed sources told Dawn that under the seventh amnesty scheme, the holders of more than one passport have been given a little over seven months to either set things right or be ready to face the music.

Information Minister Marriyum Aurengzeb confirmed that a summary to this effect had been approved by the federal cabinet on May 10. She said the scheme would remain in force till December 31.

An official told Dawn that the cases of those who failed to benefit from the scheme would be referred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The official said the scheme would benefit overseas Pakistanis currently facing difficulties for being blacklisted on being found to be holding more than one passport.

So far 12,000 individuals have benefited from six earlier amnesty schemes and around 200 applications were pending in the absence of a policy.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2022