There has been news regarding irregularities and malpractices
in the U.S Embassy's different exchange programs. Every year U.S government
invites people from different walks of life all across the world including
Pakistan under its Cultural Exchange programs, International Visit Leadership
programs (IVLP) and other such programs. The basic aim is to foster people to
people contact and enlighten Pakistani people of the American system and its
values. But in recent years several irregularities and malpractices have been
noticed in this process. The sources have pointed out that those U.S embassy
officials who hail from Pakistani origin are mainly involved in it. Since U.S
immigration laws are getting tighter day by day so it's very mammoth task to get
political asylum there. So certain journalists who either have some issues with
their jobs or who are not satisfied with their living standards try to get
inroads into the Pakistani origin staff of U.S embassy and its consulates in
different cities. For this purpose they pay huge sums as illegal gratification
to such embassy staff. With their connivance these journalists get themselves
nominated by the embassy for such programs. After reach USA they avoid to return
to return to Pakistan on one pretext or other. They either apply for asylum
there or try to enter Canada with the help of a human trafficking mafia active
or U.S-Canada border. After entering Canada they immediately apply for asylum
there. Since Canadian immigration laws are friendly so they easily get resettled
there. Interestingly there is no strict scrutiny process while choosing names
for such U.S programs as no security verification is carried out or Pakistan
Press Information Ministry, provincial information departments, home
departmentsor security are consulted to get a clear picture of any aspirant.
Even no proper surety bonds are executed by the aspirants who can be enforceable
by law. It has been learnt that in U.S. Embassy Islamabad and its consulate at
Peshawar have recruited such staff including a female who were previously
associated with journalism as their profession. These staff members are well
conversant with different working journalists. (Their names and details are
available with the author). By taking advantage of their employment in embassy
they demand handsome amounts from the aspiring journalists for getting their
names selected for U.S exchange programs. But this whole process is carried out
in a very discrete and covert manner. Their WhiteAmerican bosses are totally
ignorant of this illegal scheme of affairs. This Pakistani staff either uses
third persons for handling the gratification money or they use WhatsApp, IMO and
other popular messaging apps which involve end-to-end encryption system. Another
Modus operandi is that of getting bribe money through Money Laundering (Hundi
Hawala). Up till now five journalists from Peshawar who were sent on U.S
exchange Programs but they never returned back. Two of them have reached Canada
with the help of human trafficking mafia there. The rest three are still
residing in America till now. If US government refuses their asylum applications
then they will also switch over to Canada. Sources have pointed out a gang of
human traffickers who also are of Pakistani origin who facilitate such illegal
immigrants in getting their desired goals. These human traffickers use big
vehicles or cargo trucks to get them smuggled to Canada in lieu of huge sums.
(The names and details of such human traffickers are also available with the
author). Although no allegations regarding involvement of the American staff has
been surfaced in this human trafficking in the garb of US Exchange Programs but
still their blind faith in their Pakistani origin subordinates have raised some
serious questions over the entire process. Because this whole dirty game is
being played in a very technical manner. This whole situation is not only
bringing a bad name for US government and its embassy at Islamabad but also has
created unrest amongst the Pakistani journalist community. This is also damaging
the image of Pakistan in the world as it depicts that this is country is no more
safe for journalists to work. The author tried his level best to get the version
of U.S Ambassador Mr. Paul W Jones and its consular General Mr. Sebron CB Tony
but could not succeed. Their version can be published later if they like so. The
sources claim that due to tightening censorship on media, everyday expulsion of
staff by different media houses and growing threats from different quarters have
given rise to this trend of journalists going to USA through such means. The US
government is urged to take extra precautions while selecting candidates for
such exchange programs. They should also keep a vigilant eye on their Pakistani
staff whether they are doing such things which are not permitted by their job
description. The USA is rightly called the land of opportunities but it should
not become a hub of humantraffickers who play with human lives. If such elements
are allowed to flourish with the connivance of the US government functionaries
then it will badly damage the anti human trafficking initiatives being carried
out by the US administration itself.
The writer is a senior Journalist He can be reached at [email protected] Mobile
No, +60109301521