ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan Thursday said that a committee has been constituted to probe a controversial report published in a local English daily regarding a high-level security meeting.

“The incorrect news provided an opportunity to enemies of Pakistan to level allegations against the country,” said the minister while speaking at a press conference here.

Nisar said that the reporter’s name, who has worked on the news, was put on the Exit Control List (ECL) because he was scheduled to leave the country the very next morning, and his presence in the country was necessary for investigation.

He said the representatives of Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors and All Pakistan Newspapers Society have been called for a meeting tomorrow to discuss the matter.

Announcing the launch of online passport renewal service for the overseas Pakistanis, the interior minister said the overseas Pakistanis will now be able to get their passports renewed at their residences abroad.

He said e-service will be introduced in Pakistan within six months, and it will be ensured across the country in the next two years. The e-service will help check frauds in issuance of passports besides easy renewal of passports.

Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the government is making efforts to provide people the best services to acquire national identity card and passport in an easy way.

He said passport offices will be established in every district of the country.

To another question, the minister said Pakistan would pursue the cases against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain in Britain. However, he said, the relations between Pakistan and Britain would not be affected by the matter.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2016