jokingjustice
Registered Member
UK NATIONAL PAKISTANIS & NICOPS
July 17, 2026
According to different media reports FIA has issued new Guidelines and Regulations for dual national Overseas Pakistanis for entering into Pakistan including for those from UK or USA. I could not find any mention of these specific news in any main stream media of Pakistan or in prominent talk shows except for a v-log from Dr. Shahbaz Gill and the second a tweet from Major® Adil Raja. Shahbaz Gill mentioned that these Guidelines have also been issued to the airlines in UK and from Friday no dual national Pakistani would be able to enter Pakistan on NICOP except for having obtained a valid Pakistani Visa in advance. Finding absence of this from the main stream Pakistani media, I have not taken any serious the item from these two who are known for telecasting their Imran Nama and this part that Pakistanis holding UK passports are now denied entry on NICOP is the fabricated news of two.
2. Sometime 2012-2014 plus minus, all of a sudden Pakistani origin holding Bahraini Passports found themselves in lot trouble after landing at Pakistani airports. They learnt on landing that they were not allowed to enter Pakistan without a valid visa as Entry on NICOP was banned. These Pakistanis had no prior information about it at all. Likewise same time those who were leaving Pakistan to returning back to Bahrain found themselves in similar situation as they were told they could not board the flight without having record of visa-entry into Pakistan. These stranded with families had to summon from interior their relatives to bring “money” to make their move.
3. As soon as it came to the knowledge of Pakistanis in Bahrain, a natural hue and cry started. The Kingdom of Bahrain had generously granted Bahraini citizenship to thousands of Pakistanis in recognition of their long services. A large number of them were elite businessmen settled here. When these elite contacted the Pakistan Embassy, its reply was it was the Government decision. But why only on those holding Bahraini Passports not of UK, Belgium, Canada? There was no answer to it from the Embassy.
4. The first time community gathered unanimous on this point when the Pakistan Embassy had to hold an open meeting in the day afternoon despite it being Friday and the Embassy closed. The auditorium was full. The Embassy was insisting it was done by the Government of Pakistan but it would transmit the sentiments of the present to the Government while a Pakistan Bar-at-law brought a 32- page Constitutional Petition, a foolish step. Constitutional petition could had been had the Government imposed ban on all dual national natioals irrespective of which country they were holding dual passport or withdrawn NICOP facility.
5. All of a sudden one participant, an ordinary unfamiliar participant stood up and waved a paper. The then Member Overseas Pakistanis Council in Bahrain Mr. Muhammad Usman, established by the Government of General Musharraf, took the paper and read.
6. It transpired it was a letter 10-15 days back signed by the then Charge d Affaires addressed to DG FIA saying that it had come to the Embassy’s knowledge that some people holding Bahraini passports travel without applying Pakistani visa and they must be stopped from Entry. All participants whether ordinary Pakistani origin or an elite businessmen stood up on their seats in rage when there was unbearable noise not understandable who was saying what.
7. His Excellency the Ambassador said he was not aware of this letter and looked towards the charge d affaires who in a low pitch said that some of his staff got his signature on the letter without disclosing contents therein.
8. Should this stand be taken or not, despite passage about ten years still is a point to ponder. However, His Excellency the Ambassador was kind in assuring that immediate remedial step would be taken. Accordingly another letter from the Embassy signed by the same very charge d affaires went to DG FIA Islamabad this time to remove this ban.
9. While the story shows how one single person showed his ذہنی خباثت as to how powerful he was doing even illegal unconstitutional thing, the most condemnable was the incompetency of FIA. None there knew that an Embassy can’t impose such a ban. It is only the Federal Government of Pakistan which can through a proper Notification amending the law not by a simple letter can ban Entry or lift facility but even that not discriminatory applicable to Pakistanis from one country while still let the Pakistanis from other country enjoy. FIA Islamabad immediately forthwith without anyone applying his mind on the content circulated the letter to its different stations opening the door for, in the words of the then DG CAA four years back that every concerned had its eyes at our airports on passengers money. Alas Pakistanis unanimous struggle closed this door too soon.
July 17, 2026
According to different media reports FIA has issued new Guidelines and Regulations for dual national Overseas Pakistanis for entering into Pakistan including for those from UK or USA. I could not find any mention of these specific news in any main stream media of Pakistan or in prominent talk shows except for a v-log from Dr. Shahbaz Gill and the second a tweet from Major® Adil Raja. Shahbaz Gill mentioned that these Guidelines have also been issued to the airlines in UK and from Friday no dual national Pakistani would be able to enter Pakistan on NICOP except for having obtained a valid Pakistani Visa in advance. Finding absence of this from the main stream Pakistani media, I have not taken any serious the item from these two who are known for telecasting their Imran Nama and this part that Pakistanis holding UK passports are now denied entry on NICOP is the fabricated news of two.
2. Sometime 2012-2014 plus minus, all of a sudden Pakistani origin holding Bahraini Passports found themselves in lot trouble after landing at Pakistani airports. They learnt on landing that they were not allowed to enter Pakistan without a valid visa as Entry on NICOP was banned. These Pakistanis had no prior information about it at all. Likewise same time those who were leaving Pakistan to returning back to Bahrain found themselves in similar situation as they were told they could not board the flight without having record of visa-entry into Pakistan. These stranded with families had to summon from interior their relatives to bring “money” to make their move.
3. As soon as it came to the knowledge of Pakistanis in Bahrain, a natural hue and cry started. The Kingdom of Bahrain had generously granted Bahraini citizenship to thousands of Pakistanis in recognition of their long services. A large number of them were elite businessmen settled here. When these elite contacted the Pakistan Embassy, its reply was it was the Government decision. But why only on those holding Bahraini Passports not of UK, Belgium, Canada? There was no answer to it from the Embassy.
4. The first time community gathered unanimous on this point when the Pakistan Embassy had to hold an open meeting in the day afternoon despite it being Friday and the Embassy closed. The auditorium was full. The Embassy was insisting it was done by the Government of Pakistan but it would transmit the sentiments of the present to the Government while a Pakistan Bar-at-law brought a 32- page Constitutional Petition, a foolish step. Constitutional petition could had been had the Government imposed ban on all dual national natioals irrespective of which country they were holding dual passport or withdrawn NICOP facility.
5. All of a sudden one participant, an ordinary unfamiliar participant stood up and waved a paper. The then Member Overseas Pakistanis Council in Bahrain Mr. Muhammad Usman, established by the Government of General Musharraf, took the paper and read.
6. It transpired it was a letter 10-15 days back signed by the then Charge d Affaires addressed to DG FIA saying that it had come to the Embassy’s knowledge that some people holding Bahraini passports travel without applying Pakistani visa and they must be stopped from Entry. All participants whether ordinary Pakistani origin or an elite businessmen stood up on their seats in rage when there was unbearable noise not understandable who was saying what.
7. His Excellency the Ambassador said he was not aware of this letter and looked towards the charge d affaires who in a low pitch said that some of his staff got his signature on the letter without disclosing contents therein.
8. Should this stand be taken or not, despite passage about ten years still is a point to ponder. However, His Excellency the Ambassador was kind in assuring that immediate remedial step would be taken. Accordingly another letter from the Embassy signed by the same very charge d affaires went to DG FIA Islamabad this time to remove this ban.
9. While the story shows how one single person showed his ذہنی خباثت as to how powerful he was doing even illegal unconstitutional thing, the most condemnable was the incompetency of FIA. None there knew that an Embassy can’t impose such a ban. It is only the Federal Government of Pakistan which can through a proper Notification amending the law not by a simple letter can ban Entry or lift facility but even that not discriminatory applicable to Pakistanis from one country while still let the Pakistanis from other country enjoy. FIA Islamabad immediately forthwith without anyone applying his mind on the content circulated the letter to its different stations opening the door for, in the words of the then DG CAA four years back that every concerned had its eyes at our airports on passengers money. Alas Pakistanis unanimous struggle closed this door too soon.
