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WASHINGTON, Jan 18: A delegation of 10 US senators led by John Warner of Virginia will be visiting Pakistan, Afghanistan and some Mideastern countries in the next few days.
This was stated by the Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States while talking to mediamen here on Friday.
He said the purpose of the visit is to thank these countries for their support to the US-led war against international terrorism.
Other senators are Carl Levin, Jeff Sessions, John Rockefeller, Wayn Allard, Jame Inhofe, Pat Roberts, Jack Reed, Bill Nelson and Mark Dayton.
INS ISSUE: Ashraf Jehangir Qazi said that the US authorities had assured him that objective and fair treatment would be given to Pakistani nationals during the registration under the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System.
He emphasized that the treatment with Pakistanis in the registration process could vary from office to office in the 50 States, because the immigration officials exercising their ‘discretion’ were human beings and their own attitudes thus could be different.
Ambassador Qazi said he was surprised to note the extent of sweeping powers that the immigration officials enjoyed under the law, and how it were used in various locations.
An embassy staffer explained that in Chicago, a Pakistani, who was in violation of the status requirements, was registered and simply told to report next year and in the meanwhile fix the problem.
In Boston, a registrant was told to resolve the problem and come back in two months. In another instance Pakistanis were asked to post a $1,500 bond and report again with corrected documents.—APP
