Yousaf Raza Gilani refuses allegations of authorising visa issuance for US forces

MULTAN - Former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Friday rebuked all allegations surfaced by a letter of empowering Hussain Haqqani, the then ambassador of Pakistan in Washington, to directly issue diplomatic visas to Americans without clearance from relevant authorities.

While addressing a press conference in Multan, he said that the letter directs the ambassador to ensure timely visas not bypass visa conditions. “This was to speed up the process.”

He clarified that letter absolutely did not authorise visa issuance to US special forces which took part in the Abbottabad raid, adding, "I gave the letter to Hussain Haqqani through proper procedure and not by hand".

He said that the visa issues was brought to the limelight to divert attention from other important issues which matter.

Gilani said that the country wouldn’t be raising these questions if the judicial commission on the Osama raid had been made public.