O'Keeffe wants TDs to investigate visa fraud allegations

An investigation into the full circumstances surrounding the appointment of the honorary Irish consul in Pakistan, who was strongly recommended for the post by the Sligo-Leitrim Fianna Fail TD, Mr John Ellis, was called for in the House yesterday.

Mr Jim O'Keeffe (FG, Cork South West) said the consul, Mr Hasib Ahsan, was a friend and associate of the chairman of the Indus bank, the only bank in the history of Pakistan to have had its licence withdrawn. "I understand that Deputy Ellis is, or certainly was, a director of the Indus Bank of Pakistan," Mr O'Keeffe said.

Mr Ahsan was also a travel agent and had allegedly substantially overcharged applicants for visas in his role as newly-appointed Irish honorary consul.

He succeeded Dr Nadeem Beg as honorary consul. Dr Beg had "resigned in 1998, having enjoyed a reputation for incorruptibility", Mr O'Keeffe said. Dr Beg's "refusal to depart from the straight and narrow caused him problems on occasions, particularly regarding a report he produced on fraud in the Indus Bank".

Since part of Dr Beg's job involved issuing visas to Ireland and charging fees, he was "most careful in his screening and accounting procedures".

He introduced a rule that applications would not be accepted from travel agents who stood to profit "handsomely" from granting visas. Mr O'Keeffe said: "I understand that Mr Ahsan is a travel agent employed by American Express Travel Services. I understand that the appointment of a travel agent would be a complete departure from the previous tradition, where visa applications were not even accepted from travel agents."

Mr O'Keeffe said it was alleged that Mr Ahsan, as newly appointed Irish honorary consul, had overcharged applicants for visas, "at double or treble the rate", and that he collected more than £3,000 in extra charges between June and August.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, had confirmed that the Irish Ambassador to Pakistan, who is resident in Tehran, had interviewed 12 people "who had expressed an interest in or had been recommended for" the position of honorary consul.

Mr O'Keeffe said he understood that Mr Ahsan was not the first choice recommended by the ambassador, he told the House. His recommendation came from "an unusual source", Mr Ellis.

The circumstances of his appointment as honorary consul required "the most complete explanation" from the Government, said Mr O'Keeffe. He called for an examination by the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs into Mr Ahsan's appointment.

"It is important for Ireland that we maintain the reputation for absolute integrity in the diplomatic corps," he concluded.