US denies visa to Pakistan parliamentary delegation

According to a statement release by Pakistan senate, Chairman of Senate Mian Raza Rabbani has taken serious notice of undue delay in the issuance of visa to Deputy Chairman of Senate, Molana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri by the US Embassy in Islamabad denying the opportunity to participate in UN sponsored event in New York.

Deputy Chairman of Senate was scheduled to travel to USA as part of a delegation comprising Senator Molana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri and Salahuddin Tirmizi. The delegation was to attend Inter Parliamentary (IPU) Hearings at United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York, USA, on February 13-14, 2017.

The visit has now been cancelled on the direction of Chairman Senate.

According to the statement, the Chairman Senate has further directed that no Senate delegation will visit USA unless an explanation to the delay in issuance of Visa to the Deputy Chairman Senate is given by the US Government / Embassy of USA in Pakistan.

The statement says: no delegation, member of Congress or diplomat of the US will be welcomed by the Senate of Pakistan, Senate Standing Committees and the senators in their official capacity till this issue is resolved.

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