FAZAL SHER

ISLAMABAD: The immigration officials at Benazir Bhutto International Airport had to face the ire of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Saturday after they allowed entry to a blacklisted US citizen Mathew Berrett, who was deported five years ago for his involvement in suspicious activities inside Pakistan.

Taking serious notice, the minister suspended the concerned Assistant Director of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) immigration along with his staff present on the duty at airport for their negligence.

He also ordered to hold a thorough investigation against the officials of Pakistani Consulate in Houston, US for granting visa to a blacklisted American citizen who had been previously deported for his suspicious activities inside Pakistan. The minister has ordered a detailed investigation against FIA immigration officials at the airport as well as at Pakistani Consulate to determine whether it was an act of negligence or done intentionally for some sinister motives.

An official source said that US citizen Mathew landed at Islamabad Benazir Bhutto International Airport and FIA officials deputed there gave him clearance.

He said that the suspected US citizen had succeeded to leave airport, but was later arrested from a Guesthouse located at sector G-8. He was shifted to immigration cell for further investigation, the source said.

Later, the Interior Minister took notice of the incident and also constituted an inquiry committee headed by Additional Secretary of the Ministry Interior and sought report within 24 hours.

Ch Nisar also issued directives to constitute a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to investigate the matter comprising representatives of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Intelligence Bureau (IB) and of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). Senior Superintendent of Police (SP) Investigation of Islamabad police Muhammad Ilyas will head the JIT.

Following the incident, two FIA personnel including Ehtisham and his father Sub-Inspector Raja Asif deputed at immigration desk of Benazir Bhutto International Airport Islamabad were arrested and an FIR was registered against them for giving clearance to the US citizen.

According to the official, the US citizen Mathew was arrested in 2011 for spying on the nuclear installations and was deported from the country with the charge of violation of laws and suspicious activities and was added in the blacklist.

The FIA officials later presented Mathew before judicial magistrate and the court sent the US citizen to jail on three days physical remand.