British newspaper The Sun announces to contest law suit

British newspaper, The Sun, announced to contest against any law suit filed by Pakistani government, saying it has strong proves in support of its report.

On Wednesday, Federal Cabinet announced that it will sue British daily, The Sun for carrying out a fabricated story about fake passports being made and false visa being issued in Pakistan.

The cabinet stated that the scandal was a conspiracy of the British tabloid, which had been hatched to malign image of the country.

However the paper claimed, “The Sun published the news in the public interest as the militants could take advantage of the corrupt system to enter into the Olympic village”.

It further said that they will provide all evidences if the Pakistani government files a case against the daily publication.

Earlier, The Sun claimed to have smashed a VISA-scam giving potential terrorists the chance to sneak into Britain with Pakistan’s Olympic squad. An undercover reporter of the publication infiltrated a crime ring offering false passports, visas and access to London 2012 as bogus support staff.

However, an initial investigation conducted by National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) dismissed the claims of British tabloid and termed its report a fabricated.

A press statement issued by NADRA said, “There was no fraud or illegal activity done while obtaining the ID cards and passport of ‘the Sun Man’ Mohammad Ali Asad”.

The report of the newspaper claimed that their man was managed to get a fake passport issued in his name by bribing officials at NADRA.

The passport-issuing authority also issued a clarification saying that documentary and video evidence proves that Mohammad Ali Asad had himself presented for the renewal of his expired CNIC.

It said that the man was picked by “The Sun” as undercover, who travelled to Pakistan on July 8.

Ali Asad went to NADRA office, Baghbanpura to get his photo updated against his own CNIC on July 10 rather than getting someone else identity as claimed by “The Sun” story.

His CNIC was updated after matching with his previous record held in database. After getting his CNIC modified, he processed for his MRP (machine readable passport) on July 13, which was delivered to him on July 18.

Since the same person applied to renew his own ID card and for provision of a passport, nothing illegal was done.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=29666

Posted by Faisal Farooq on Jul 26 2012. Filed under National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.