NEW YORK, Jan 19: Services of an American attorney firm have been acquired by the Pakistan Consulate-General in New York to provide legal assistance to Pakistani registrants engaged in the process of registration under the newly-introduced National Security Entry-Exit System (NSSERS).

Disclosing this the Consul-General of Pakistan in New York, Mohammad Hafeez, told newsmen here on Saturday that from Tuesday the services of one attorney would be available to registrants at the Immigration office of Federal Plaza in New York while the services of another attorney would be available at the consulate.

Giving details, the Consul-General said these two attorneys would evaluate the cases of Pakistani registrants and assist them during their registration process.

He said the Government of Pakistan and its missions in the United States were fully aware of the problems being faced by Pakistanis and, therefore, taken a number of steps to assist and facilitate the registrants.

These steps, he said, were aimed at providing operational and legal cover to the nationals who were required to register themselves at the Immigration office.

Similarly, a dedicated point man representing an official of the Pakistan Mission had been placed at the Immigration offices in New York and other adjoining states for guidance, general information and legal assistance.

New York and its adjoining areas are places where Pakistan nationals are mainly concentrated. A senior official at the Consul-General office in New York will monitor the overall activities of the point men.

An exclusive desk has already been set up at the Immigration office while two dedicated hotlines and a toll-free helpline has also been established.

In response to a question the Consul-General said no Pakistani had been detained in New York and its adjoining state so far except one Atif Naeem Siddiqui who had been booked under the charge of Security/Exchange Regulations.

He stressed for community mobilization to supplement the government’s efforts to help all the registrants.—APP