Pak students being granted British visa after telephone interview only

LONDON - Students of Pakistani origin are being granted British visas on the basis of a telephone interview, even as investigation teams probe different aspects of a crackdown involving twelve alleged Pakistan ’student’ terrorists.

The Telegraph reports that British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has admitted that some visa applications are being decided over the telephone.

Smith is facing severe criticism over weaknesses in the system following her claims that the security services had previously issued warnings about faults in the whole process of issuing visas.

It has also been revealed that a report from a chief immigration officer raising questions over the handling of student visas in Pakistan, three years ago, was suppressed.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling, while criticizing Smith for her inability to deal with the circumstances, said the past few weeks have been another ‘chapter of chaos’ in the Home Office.

Former Labour Minister Kate Hoey also lashed out at the Home Office for its ignorant attitude over the issue.

“The way international terrorism was handled in this country had been brought in to disrepute by hordes of police officers trailing around an individual MP over something that ended up othing to do with national security,” Hoey commented. (ANI)