Balochistan police claim to have detained an American citizen involved in suspicious activities at Pak-Iran border Thursday evening, Business Recorder learnt. When contacted, Richard Snelsire, Spokesman of the US Embassy in Islamabad, expressed his incognisance of the matter. "So far we have no information on it," Richard told Business Recorder in a telephonic conversation.
According to sources, Frank White was picked up by the Gwadar police near Pak-Iran border in Jiwani area at around 8pm for not possessing an NOC that is issued by Balochistan Home Department to the foreigners. "He was wandering around in a suspicious manner near the prohibited border area," they added.
The sources said the US national was taken into police custody on his way back from the border area by a police patrol on his failure to produce the required documents. The sources said the absence of police protection, which is usually taken by the foreigners, especially from the US, also made the police suspicious about the American national. They claimed that Frank was also found taking photos in the sensitive prohibited neighbourhood along with some four representatives of a local NGO, Taiman.
At present, Frank is under detention in a local hotel located near Gwadar Port. The police had also confiscated his passport, the sources told Business Recorder. When contacted Deputy Superintendent Police Gwadar, Abdul Sattar, said the Frank did not possess an NOC nor did the Home Department inform the police about his arrival. "Yes we have detained him... he possesses a passport but not an NOC," the DSP told Business Recorder from Gwadar.
According to police officer, the US national had flown into Gwadar city from Karachi on Thursday morning, adding that the suspect had also been found taking photos while moving in a prohibited area near Pak-Iran border. Sattar said at least four representatives of a local NGO, Dr Shehzad Bajwa, Dr Shehzad Tufail, Dr Aziz and Dr Nasir, also accompanied Frank.
"They say we would obtain an NOC by tomorrow," the DSP said. Commenting on the issue, the US embassy spokesman said as Washington never tended to place any restrictions on the movement of Pakistani diplomats or citizens on its soil, such restrictions in Pakistan were 'unusual' for the US people. "In America you don't need an NOC to move freely," he said.
Comments
Comments are closed.