By Qadeer Tanoli in The Express Tribune, July 26, 2017
ISLAMABAD: In light of the report of Joint Investigation Team (JIT) – formed to probe abduction of two Chinese nationals in Quetta – Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has approved cancelling visas issued to foreign nationals associated with ARK Infotech Company.
In May, a group of Chinese citizens, including the two abducted ones, obtained business visas from Pakistan Embassy in Beijing and entered Pakistan to work with ARK Infotech, but instead of conducting business, they went to Quetta for preaching, according to Ministry of Interior on Tuesday.
The Chinese citizens withheld the information that they were missionaries and had come to Pakistan for preaching, the ministry added.
All foreign nationals associated with ARK Infotech Company will be repatriated from Pakistan with immediate effect, it stated, adding that it has also been decided to immediately cancel the registration of such companies.
Due to involvement of the company in illegal activities, it has been decided to properly pursue the cases registered against the management of the infotech company at appropriate forums.
Reports received by the interior ministry indicate that 24-year-old Lee Zing Yang and Ms Meng Li Si, 26-years of age, were abducted from Jinnah Town Quetta on May 24. According to reports, they had stated that they were learning Urdu language from a South Korean national Juan Won Seo, owner of ARK Infotech Company.
Since their abduction there has been no reports about their whereabouts, sources in the Ministry of Interior stated.
After abduction of the Chinese nationals, a JIT was formed on the directives of the interior minister to probe the matter.
Moreover, under the newly-adopted measures approved by Chaudhry Nisar, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) will conduct audit of all foreign companies and firms to determine whether they are filing tax returns or involved in unlawful activities. Their registrations will be cancelled, if any violation is found.
“Make sure of proper scrutiny of financial matters and other credentials of foreign companies prior to their registration,” is another task given to the SECP.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has also been directed to take action against the SECP officials, who showed negligence, regarding the ARK Infotech Company.
To control with surety the practice of obtaining Pakistani visas by submitting fake credentials and adopting illegal measures, Chaudhry Nisar has also given approval to review the process of issuance of visas on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the scrutiny of credentials of applicants.
Moreover, the foreign affairs ministry will inform the Korean ambassador about the facts and evidences in this context.
It is also being reviewed as to how ARK Infotech Company, in the guise of an Urdu academy, was violating visa laws and involved in unlawful activities, which were against national interest.
In June, the interior ministry had cancelled the visa of South Korean national Seo alias Gilbert, running the Urdu academy where Chinese citizens were learning Urdu language.
The investigation into the abduction of the Chinese nationals also revealed that Seo came to Pakistan on a business visa, established an Urdu academy and got involved in unauthorised activities which were in violation of his visa.
A few days prior to their abduction, the two Chinese citizens were taken into custody in the area of Kharotabad and warned about their security. The police had also offered them security, but they turned it down.
According to sources in the interior ministry, the security and intelligence agencies had also looked into the background of the abduction of the Chinese nationals, besides analysing various pictures uploaded on social media to reach a conclusion in the case.https://tribune.com.pk/story/1466691/quetta-incident-jit-submits-report-chinese-kidnapping/
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