World XI Tour : Imran Tahir unhappy with treatment at Pakistani Consulate in Birmingham

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Statement from Imran Tahir regarding his treatment at the Pakistani Consulate in Birmingham <a href="https://t.co/aK51dXaogC">pic.twitter.com/aK51dXaogC</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/904972951287721984">September 5, 2017</a></blockquote>
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[MenInG]

I am a little shocked - I would have thought that this would have been the least of issues for this tour. Surely clear instructions would have been given to players and consular officials about this?

 

[Cricfan4eva]

Good on Tahir, to not take it personally and withdraw out of the tour. Poor stuff from the embassy personnel. Looks like someone isn't going to hold onto their job much longer.

 

[shaz619]

I am a little shocked - I would have thought that this would have been the least of issues for this tour. Surely clear instructions would have been given to players and consular officials about this?

They are a piece of work mate treat everyone like rubbish, have family members who have also been treated poorly over there but we sort of expect the lack of profesionalism it's very popular amongst Pakistani's

 

[MenInG]

Don't want to turn this into a Pak-bashing thread but really surprised that people who are to be given presidential security are having to go through a queue for this? Surely, there papers should have been collected and one person assigned to liaise with consulates to get the visas sorted?

 

[kingusama92]

Saw the same happen here in Toronto back in 2003 (last time I went).

We just managed to get the documents while others were kicked out.

 

[squarecut]

They were only promised presidential security. They were not promised any uncharacteristic courtesy at the Consulate.

 

[Finisher]

Not surprised, the staff at Birmingham consulate are a bunch of idiots.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Not surprised, the staff at Birmingham consulate are a bunch of idiots.

Pakistani embassy staff everywhere left a lot to be desired.

They treat their fellow and ex-Pakistanis like crap.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

They were only promised presidential security. They were not promised any uncharacteristic courtesy at the Consulate.

Jokes aside. I would reconsider visiting Pakistan...

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

Pakistani embassy staff everywhere left a lot to be desired.

They treat their fellow and ex-Pakistanis like crap.

As an expat, I can vouch for that. Pakistan consulates everywhere in the world are an embarrassment - maybe there are some exceptions.

They are not a support to Pakistanis but a burden. And the visa process for hapless foreigners is like pulling teeth.

Imran Tahir should have written to Najam Sethi directly.

 

[Bilal7]

Fire the whole lot. Make an example out of them. Give some people a little authority and dimaag kharab hojatay hain.

 

[MenInG]

Fire the whole lot. Make an example out of them. Give some people a little authority and dimaag kharab hojatay hain.

They can do what they like with others as that is not a problem we can fix now. What is odd is that knowing fully well that the eyes of the world are on us atm , this is the last thing they should be doing.

 

[squarecut]

I think that PCB has failed to inform concerned people about this tour. Consulate was certainly not aware.

Let us hope that PCB has not failed to inform the security agencies who are supposed to arrange for presidential level security.

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

I think that PCB has failed to inform concerned people about this tour. Consulate was certainly not aware.

Let us hope that PCB has not failed to inform the security agencies who are supposed to arrange for presidential level security.

You literally have to live under a rock LIKE LITERALLY to not know why Imran Tahir is making the rounds of the Embassay

 

[Major]

The embassey is a small example of what happens in the actual pakistan.

 

[Bewal Express]

To be fair to the PK consulate in Bham, they have been better in more recent times as far as NADRA cards go. The old Bismillah building was an absolute disgrace with some of the most disgusting toilets i have seen in the UK, but the new building was much better.

 

[MenInG]

To be fair to the PK consulate in Bham, they have been better in more recent times as far as NADRA cards go. The old Bismillah building was an absolute disgrace with some of the most disgusting toilets i have seen in the UK, but the new building was much better.

Doesnt excuse people not being able to handle visa apps for VIP visitors to our country

 

[AlizeeFan]

You literally have to live under a rock LIKE LITERALLY to not know why Imran Tahir is making the rounds of the Embassay

No it's not necessary that you would recognise Imran Tahir.

What happened wasn't good, but generally in such cases boards will provide a letter and inform embassy in advance.

Not just boards, companies will do it in advance too. They generally send a mail to their contact in embassy informing them of the visit by the concerned person and they would allow exceptions based on scenario.

 

[AlizeeFan]

Doesnt excuse people not being able to handle visa apps for VIP visitors to our country

I doubt that this can be considered normal for even a regular visitor for visa of other countries.

 

[Salman]

Why did Imran Tahir go to the embassy? he should have used one of the approved agencies like Gerry's, quite a straight forward process last time i did it.

I went to the London embassy for my Nadra card application a few weeks back, staff are efficient but looked very under paid and over worked.

 

[PakLFC]

Just shows the Pak consulate does not differentiate between sports people and the common man

 

[Markhor]

They are a piece of work mate treat everyone like rubbish, have family members who have also been treated poorly over there but we sort of expect the lack of profesionalism it's very popular amongst Pakistani's

Maybe those "Bearded Bros Volunteers" cleaning up the uncollected rubbish in Birmingham should also work in the embassy

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Imran Tahir attention seeking again.

Needs to grow up.

Better if he stays in SA.

 

[Abdullah719]

Imran Tahir, family issued visa for Independence Cup: Consulate

ISLAMABAD: South African cricketer Muhammad Imran Tahir who would be featuring in the Independence Cup scheduled to be held in Lahore this month had been issued visa by the Pakistan Consulate Birmingham that were lacking due to insufficient documentation.

Imran Tahir and his family approached the Pakistan Consulate Birmingham on September 4, for issuance of visa for himself, his wife, son and mother-in-law, a press release said.

The consul general received Tahir in his office, and explained to him that issuing visa to third country nationals requires additional processes as Tahir as well as his three family members are holders of South African passports.

Consulate staff assisted him in filling out the visa applications. The visa applications are handled by Gerry’s but, as a special case, his (Tahir’s) applications were directly accepted by the consulate. It may be noted that the normal visa processing time is five working days.

When the high commissioner came to know about the matter, he immediately intervened and gave necessary approval after which the visa were issued the same day. The high commissioner also spoke to Tahir on telephone.

It is clarified that the time taken in issuing visa was due to non filling-out four applications, non availability of supporting documents and additional processing required in respect of visa for holders of third country passports. – SAMAA

https://www.samaa.tv/sports/2017/09/imran-tahir-family-issued-visa-independence-cup-consulate/

 

[moghul]

They were only promised presidential security. They were not promised any uncharacteristic courtesy at the Consulate.

"presidential " treatment is reserved for "foreign" players only. Imran Tahir is a dessi so they gave him "normal " treatment.

 

[Saj]

Seems like Imran and his family still got looked after in the end.

Most ordinary folk would have been treated like an animal in this place.

 

[IAJ]

To get into Pakistan in legal way is next to impossible, but if you don't have any paper etc you'll get entry easily, especially if you are an american..

 

[zoeyfactor]

Is he not a Pakistani citizen anymore?

 

[Major]

You guys should check out the Pakistani embassey in New Delhi.

Massive piece of land, but yet, the sitting area for the ones applying visa is soo crappy.

 

[Usman]

Don't want to turn this into a Pak-bashing thread but really surprised that people who are to be given presidential security are having to go through a queue for this? Surely, there papers should have been collected and one person assigned to liaise with consulates to get the visas sorted?

I'm sure when the Pakistani team tours another country, the PCB must sort out their visas. The World XI doesn't have a board so clearly the PCB should have done this for them.

Unprofessionalism of the board backed by unprofessionalism of the consular staff brings unnecessary shame on Pakistan as a country.

The High Commissioner eventually stepped in here but imagine how many ordinary people get terribly treated like this on a daily basis.

My advice to all Pakistanis is to get a NADRA card and go through this headace just once every 10 years.

 

[cric_man]

I have been to the Pakistani Consulate in Chicago many times since 2004. I have always had a favorable experience. The attitude of the staff can be a bit lax but they have never been rude or uncooperative.
The Pakistani Consulate of Chicago is at a prime location in downtown Chicago off Michigan avenue but over the years, the seating/waiting area has gotten to be a bit worn down.
I had similar experience at the Spanish Consulate. Same attitude as well as same rundown Consulate

I have heard that the NYC Consulate is really rundown though.

 

[Leo23]

well just because he is a cricketer doesn't mean he should be treated like royalty

no need to whine so much

 

[cric_man]

According to a report, Imran Tahir arrived at the consulate without any paper work and not having any forms filled out especially for his wife and family who are not of Pak origin. He was told about the process and the amount of time it takes to get the visa (5 days). After being politely instructed about the process, he left and came back after a few hours again He insisted that he be issued visa then and there. That is when the HC came to know of him and helped out (which he shouldn't). Everybody should follow the process.

I don't know what the process is @ Birmingham consulate, but at the Chicago consulate which I have frequented; if you submit your application before noon and you request that you have come from a different state such as Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin or even the suburbs (I lived 40 miles west), they'd give you the visa same day after 2PM. Never had any rude or unprofessional experience.

 

[o_ahsan99]

After reading the OP I was also a little embarrassed but if the SAMAA TV article is true, then nothing wrong happened. In fact, it is Imran Tahir who is on the wrong and still making a scene. Embassy's and consulates have rules and regulations. They even have document requirements. One should not expect to get a visa without filling the applications and providing the supporting document. Moreover, Imran Tahir needed visas for his wife, child and mother in law as well. Thus making it a personal need and not a cricket matter. So whats wrong with him in going through the normal process. The article says that Imran didn't even go through Gerry's and yet a personal exception was made for him.

I have visited the Pakistan consulate in Los Angeles a few times and have always had good experiences. What I have witnessed first hand is, a lot of Pakistani who now have US passports, visit the embassy with a lot of arrogance and pride. They have an attitude to fix all that's wrong in Pakistan and put the embassy people in their place. As a result the embassy staff gets mad and the rudeness has to be experienced by the next few people in line as well.

 

[The Googly]

The Birmingham consulate staff are a bunch of rude morons. This does not surprise me. They should all be sacked. A few years ago, one of them abused a Pakistani lady badly because she had the temerity to complain about waiting for so long. This backfired on him because several of the men were so shocked at the language used towards a lady that they threatened him with physical violence. He quickly backtracked and tried to laugh it off. Idiot.