Pakistan senate retaliates after U.S. fails to issue visa to senate deputy chairman

Pakistan retaliates after U.S. denied visa to politician
February 12, 2017

The Associated Press via Fox News

ISLAMABAD – The chairman of Pakistan's senate says the body will not welcome any U.S. delegation, member of Congress or dignitary in Islamabad.

Chairman Raza Rabbani said in a statement that no Pakistani senate delegation would visit the U.S. until an explanation for the delay in issuing a visa to Maulana Ghafoor Haideri is given by U.S. authorities.

The move comes after the U.S. failed to issue a visa to the senate's deputy chairman, a member of the right-wing Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam political party. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman is known for pro-Taliban and anti-U.S. stances.

A U.S. embassy spokesman in Islamabad said Sunday they could not comment on visa cases due to privacy laws.

Haideri was to travel Sunday to New York to attend a meeting at the United Nations.

[END REPORT]

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