Picture courtesy : PTI
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday said that a Pakistani woman suffering from cancer was denied a visa for treatment in India as Sartaj Aziz, the Pakistan Prime Minister’s Advisory on Foreign Affairs, had not recommended a medical visa yet.
In a series of tweets as reported by CNN- IBN, Swaraj also took on Aziz for sitting on a visa plea by Indian national Avantika Jadhav whose son has been sentenced to death in Pakistan, an apparent reference to former Indian navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav.
Swaraj said she sympathised with the Pakistani nationals seeking treatment in India and all that New Delhi required is a “recommendation” from Aziz for “the nationals of his own country”.
“I am sure Mr. Sartaj Aziz also has consideration for the nationals of his country,” she said.
Swaraj added that the visa plea of Mrs. Jadhav was also pending with Aziz and that she had personally written to him on the matter.
Aziz, however, did not even acknowledge the letter, she said. “Mr. Aziz has not shown the courtesy even to acknowledge my letter.”
I have my sympathies for all Pakistan nationals seeking medical visa for their treatment in India. /1
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 10, 2017
I am sure Mr.Sartaj Aziz also has consideration for the nationals of his country. /2
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 10, 2017
All that we require is his recommendation for the grant of medical visa to Pakistan nationals. /3
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 10, 2017
I see no reason why should he hesitate to give his recommendation for nationals of his own country. /4
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 10, 2017
We also have a visa application pending for an Indian national Mrs.Avantika Jadhav who wants to meet her son in Pakistan /5
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 10, 2017
against whom they have pronounced a death sentence. /6
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 10, 2017
I wrote a personal letter to Mr.Sartaj Aziz for the grant of her visa to Pakistan. /7
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 10, 2017
However, Mr.Aziz has not shown the courtesy even to acknowledge my letter. /8
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 10, 2017
But I assure Pakistan nationals seeking medical visa with a recommendation from Mr.Sartaj Aziz, we will issue the visa immediately. /9
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 10, 2017
Faiza Tanveer, 25, had on Sunday appealed to Swaraj to grant her a visa for cancer treatment in India. She is suffering from a recurrent ameloblastoma, an oral tumour which is aggressive in nature.
She planned to visit the Inderprastha Dental College and Hospital (IDCH) in Ghaziabad and paid Rs 10 lakh in advance for treatment, according to a Pakistani media report.
Speaking to CNN-News18 on Monday, Tanveer said, “The Pakistan Foreign Office is claiming that Sartaj Aziz had no role to play in granting a visa. They have been asking me to appeal to Sushma Swaraj. I am running from pillar to post.”
“Closing off medical visas for political reasons is not good. I appealed to India because it is a kind country,” Tanveer added.
