§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the British embassy in Islamabad will permit Nasreen Akhtar to return to Bradford; on how many occasions since 2 January Nasreen Akhtar has visited that embassy to ask for a reentry visa; how many official telex messages have been sent to that embassy confirming the identity of Nasreen Akhtar and on what dates; what replies have been received; why letters from the hon. Member for Bradford, West confirmin Nasreen Akhtar's identity have not been accepted by that embassy; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorHer Majesty's Embassy in Islamabad informed Nasreen Akhtar by registered letter on 4 February 1988, that a returning resident visa was available on an any day basis. The only recorded visit by Nasreen Akhtar to the embassy was on 27 January, the date of application. The embassy received two official telex messages concerning Nasreen Akhtar's immigration status (not her identity) on 14 January and 3 February 1988. The embassy telexed the Home Office on 20 January requesting150W their reference number in order to locate previous papers, and again on 28 January after the application was actually lodged.
Miss Akhtar's recently issued passport bore only a United Kingdom departure stamp and this was not sufficient to confirm her returning resident status. While the hon. Member for Bradford, West's letter confirmed Miss Akhtar's identity, it did not confirm her status.