The diplomatic missions of 15 major developed countries in Islamabad have joined forces to screen out unwanted Pakistanis, including top government officials, and prevent them from travelling to any of their countries. The countries include most European Union nations represented in Pakistan as well as Australia, Canada and South Africa, the Pakistani media reported on Monday. "This is just a measure to share information about a habitual or a suspicious visa-seeker and there is nothing sinister about it," an immigration officer at an European Union country told The News, when approached for comments. He said that the intention was to prevent 'suspicious characters' from obtaining a visa. The immigration official refused to elaborate on the nature of the suspicions entertained by the group. Investigations reveal that the embassies and high commissions of Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Finland, Germany, Holland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom have set up a joint group called the Islamabad Anti-Visa Fraud Group. This group shares a joint Warning List, which lists persons blacklisted by one or more of the member countries, The News reported. It is learnt that a country blacklisting any person for a visa intimates the other countries about that person by sharing his or her particulars and personal information, thereby warning the others not to grant visa
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