Pakistan to file libel case against British tabloid

The cabinet thoroughly discussed the issue of the visa scam and decided to take legal action against The Sun, officials said. The Interior Secretary, chairman of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and the director general of the Passport Department briefed the cabinet on the issue. Officials described the British tabloid`s report on the passport scam as "false propaganda".

"The cabinet ordered NADRA to file a defamation suit (against The Sun) after consulting the Law Ministry," Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira told the media after the cabinet meeting. He said "dirty propaganda was unleashed against Pakistan" and that the tabloid "does not have a good reputation". Official sources said a lawsuit seeking Rs 10 billion in damages would be filed in a British court.

The cabinet ordered the Federal Investigation Agency to halt its probe into the passport scam in light of the decision to file a lawsuit. Before the cabinet meeting, a special investigation team formed by Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik to probe the matter had arrested 11 people, including officials of NADRA and the passport department and employees of a Lahore-based travel agency.

Meanwhile, The Sun reported that nearly 100 suspects had been arrested following its report this week. The tabloid today quoted Mohammad Anwar Virk, head of Pakistan`s Federal Investigation Agency, as saying "We have arrested dozens of suspects and will interrogate them to get access to the mafia leaders. There are hints some of the accused might be affiliated with terror groups.
The main aim is to find terror contacts. It will be a bigger issue than it is now if terror links are found. We are investigating the terror links and the human smuggling aspect".