The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has so far not received any request from chief of MQM Altaf Hussain for the issuance of National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP), though this does not imply that he has not approached Pakistan High Commission in the UK for issuance of Pakistani passport. Sources in NADRA said that Altaf Hussain may have submitted an application to Pakistan High Commission in the UK for the issuance of NICOP, but nothing in this regard has been received by NADRA so far.
Source stated that NICOP is a mandatory requirement for the issuance of a computerised Pakistani Passport; however, the High Commissioner has the authority to issue a manual passport to anyone for a period of six months. Source said that NICOP is a registration document that can be issued to a valid/legitimate citizen of Pakistan. Previously it was issued to overseas Pakistanis working/living/staying/studying abroad consecutively for six months or a dual national but now it can be issued to any citizen of Pakistan. He said that the MQM chief is currently holding a British passport and he has allowed his Pakistani passport and ID card to expire.
Member of MQM Rabita Committee and member of National Assembly Rasheed Godil stated that Altaf Hussain is ready to come to Pakistan but he has been requested by party workers not to return at this point in time. Altaf Hussain left Karachi for London on 1992 - one month before the PML-N government launched Operation Clean-up and sent the military into Karachi to crack down on the MQM. He applied for political asylum in Britain. Later, he applied for British nationality and got a UK passport.
Monitoring Desk adds: The Foreign Office has reportedly said that MQM chief Altaf Hussain's application has been received. Quoting an FO spokesperson, a private TV channel said the Foreign Office had received Hussain's application, which was submitted to Pakistan High Commission in London. He further said the application has been forwarded to Interior Ministry.
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