The curious case of the Indian Consulate in Chicago issuing visa to Pakistani-Canadian Tahawwur Rana, arrested by the FBI for allegedly plotting terror attacks in India, appears to be getting curiouser.
Both Rana and his wife Samraz Rana had been issued multi-entry visas by the Consulate with the visa stamp clearly stating that this had been issued in the “discretion of the CG” (Consul General).
David Headley, born to a Pakistani father, was also issued a five-year multi-entry business visa in July 2007.
Under the visas, Headley and Ranas were also exempted from police reporting if their stay was less than 180 days at a single stretch.
However, responding to questions emailed by PTI, the Consulate said that “the question of discretion does not arise“.
Contrary to a Ministry of Home Affairs circular in 2004, the Consulate claimed that no prior clearance of the Ministry was required in issuing visa in the cases of citizens of Pakistan origin and that the question of using “discretion” does not arise.
Consular (visa) in the Mission Vishvas Sapkal said that the Consulate did not know 48-year-old Pakistani-born businessman before issuance of visa.
