Hayat seeks explaination over alleged meddling in consulate affairs

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): The governor of eastern Nangarhar province has asked the embassy of Pakistan to provide explaination regarding his alleged involvement in the affairs of Consulate Generat in Jalalabad.

Hayatullah Hayat said if the Consulate General is closed in response to local govenrment’s effort to curb corruption then they were not interested in the resumption of its activities and visa service because the honour of Afghans was more important to them.

Hayat said no interference has been made in the affairs of Consulate General but steps were taken to improve the visa system in complete coordination with the Consulate General of Pakistan.

“Every day thousands of people refer to the Consulate General of Pakistan for visa. Some applicatns face disgrace and physical toture due to iregulaties and violations,” he said.

The governor made it clear that disgrace and humiliation was not acceptable to Afghans. He said the applicants were asked for 5,000 to 20,000 rupees for a visa and people had lost their patience due to widespread corruption and irregularities.

He said it was the local government responsibility to ensure order, security and transparency in front of the Pakistnai consulat and would never allow digrace and dishonor of the people.

Earlier, Pakistan has closed its consulate in Jalalabad, accusing the governor of meddling in the diplomatic mission’s affairs.

The Pakistan embassy in Kabul blamed Governor Hayatullah Hayat of interfering in the consulate matters. In a statement, the embassy said the meddling was against the law.

The embassy urged Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry to prevent the governor from meddling in the consulate affairs.

nh