ISLAMABAD, Feb 14: The government is seeking repatriation of a former employee of the foreign office who fled to Switzerland some nine years back and sought political asylum there, it is learnt.

Services of Zafar Iqbal, a low-grade employee at the Pakistani mission in Italy, were terminated some time ago.

Sources said Mr Iqbal had made some ‘disclosures’ about some senior officials of the Pakistani mission in Italy and he was called back. However, he ran away to Switzerland where he applied for political asylum on the plea that he would be persecuted.

A foreign office official said the FO was not involved in any effort to bring Mr Iqbal back. “I have no knowledge of this case. If any effort is being made or was made to bring him back then the interior ministry could be knowing about that,” he said.

Opinion

Editorial

Centre vs provinces
Updated 10 Jun, 2026

Centre vs provinces

The reason the centre finds itself in this position is rooted in its failure to expand the tax net and boost revenues.
Party in crisis
10 Jun, 2026

Party in crisis

THE young KP chief minister must be starting to realise just how thorny a seat he occupies. There has been a flurry...
Varsity woes
10 Jun, 2026

Varsity woes

FINANCIAL crises affecting public sector universities across Pakistan are now having an impact on academic...
Doctor attacked
09 Jun, 2026

Doctor attacked

AN act of reprehensible violence has shaken the medical community. On Saturday, an employee of the Provincial Civil...
AJK flare-up
Updated 09 Jun, 2026

AJK flare-up

The situation started deteriorating after a trader affiliated with the JAAC was reportedly shot in an altercation with law-enforcers.
Fault lines
09 Jun, 2026

Fault lines

THE April 8 ceasefire that halted hostilities between Israel and Iran has encountered its most serious test yet....