ISLAMABAD — In utter confusion the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had extended the stay of Danish journalist Ms Puk Damsgard Anderson for another couple of days despite the fact that her deportation orders issued by the Ministry of Interior on April 23 were still intact.

Sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed that over the past couple of days the officials of Danish Embassy were seen active to get the renewed visa for Ms Puk Damsgard Anderson. However, on the other hand the Interior Ministry has not yet rescinded the deportation orders, which it had issued on April 23 wherein the lady journalist was directed to leave the country within seven days.

When contacted, the officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs remained tightlipped on the issue and they had expressed their ignorance about the development on this front.
The sources in the Ministry, however, informed TheNation that the officials of Denmark Embassy were seen visiting the Europe DeskÂ’s officials in the Ministry but could not get the orders of her deportation rescinded from the Ministry of Interior.

The official sources in the Ministry of Interior informed that the orders of Ms Puk Anderson’s deportation were still intact and her stay was illegal and a sheer violation of Foreigners Act.
These sources further said that the visa of the lady could not be extended until the withdrawal of her deportation orders issued by the Ministry and all what the officials at Ministry of Foreign Affairs were doing was illegal and against the law of the land.

The sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Danish Embassy was putting pressure on the Ministry for the extension of visa to the lady, as the matter could not be resolved and the Ministry had extended her stay for another couple of days.

The sources in the Interior Ministry said that they had given quite pertinent and irrefutable reasons for the deportation of the lady and the same could not be overlooked easily.
Source: The Nation
Date:5/19/2010