RAWALPINDI, Nov 4: The Ministry of Interior has refused to renew the passports of the family of a Kashmiri leader, who has taken political asylum in Switzerland, after intelligence reports accused the family of taking part in anti-Pakistan activities.

This was conveyed to the Lahore High Court by an official of the passport and immigration department in response to a petition seeking renewal of seven passports of the family of Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, Chairman United Kashmir People’s National Party.

When Justice Mamoon Rasheed Sheikh asked whether the department wanted to revoke the nationality of Naseem, wife of Kashmiri, and their six children, the official sought time to submit written response on behalf of the Ministry of Interior. The court put off the hearing till the third week of November.

Mohammad Saleem Khan, the brother of Ms Naseem, moved the court through his counsel Nisar Shah saying the government was not renewing the travel documents of his sister and her children as they wanted to come to Pakistan for family interaction.

Kashmiri was allegedly arrested by Pakistani agencies in 1992 and again in 1998 for raising voice for independence of Kashmir.

He left Pakistan in 1998 and applied for asylum in 2000. Later, he settled in Switzerland along with his family.