A number of Nangarhar residents have protested over what they said is corruption in the Pakistan consulate in Nangarhar as they have to allegedly bribe consulate staff to give them visas.
A Nangarhar official confirmed that people are taking bribes in exchange for processing their visas.
A number of angry protestors gathered in front of the Pakistan consulate on Friday to voice their grievances.
Some of those who outside the consulate said they need to get to Pakistan for medical treatment, while others said they had been deported and needed to get back but that they wanted to work through the legal channels opposed to bribing officials for visas.
Wali Khan, a resident of Nanagarhar said: “There are patients lying in their sick beds and have been waiting for visas for 20 days. But some staff have said we must pay 5,000 Afghani and then they will process our visas within one day.”
Shukrullah, another resident of Nangarhar, said: “Anyone who is poor like me cannot get his visa in 15 to 20 days.”
In the meantime, Nangarhar provincial council confirms the issue and says that people have to pay money as bribes to get visas.
“A person comes and collects the passports with the money and takes them to the consulate. The consul or any other staff in the office receives that money,” said Lal Mohammad Durrani, a member of Nangarhar provincial council.
Farmanullah Khan Yousafzai, Pakistan’s consul in Nangarhar said: “Pakistan visa is for free, but the agent makes the people pay the money to get their visa earlier.”
Nangarhar local officials also confirm the corruption in the Pakistan consulate.
Ataullah Khogyani, Nangarhar governor said: “The security personnel and other staff who pave the way for bribes will be investigated and soon the problem will be solved.”
It is said that getting Pakistani visas have become increasingly difficult to get following an increase in tension between Afghan and Pakistan forces over Pakistan’s military installations at Torkham gate.http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/27060-corruption-in-pakistan-consulate
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