Yasin Malik's passport likely to be revoked

Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front chief Yasin Malik's passport is likely to be revoked by the government after he shared the stage with Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed in Pakistan while protesting against Afzal Guru's execution.

Security agencies will interrogate the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front leader, who is on a visit to Pakistan, when he returns to India, top officials said on Tuesday, making it very clear that Malik's hobnobbing with Saeed and indulging in political activities against India in Pakistan have not gone down well with the government.

Malik will be subjected to detailed questioning about his activities in the neighbouring country including his meeting with Saeed and other leaders who are inimical to India's interests.

"We are conducting a thorough enquiry. When the report will come, we will take appropriate action against him (Malik)," Minister of State for Home RPN Singh told reporters.

Ministry of External Affairs also said "careful and prompt action" will be taken if the Home Ministry requests it for revoking or impounding Malik's passport.

"We issue passport on the basis of no objection certificate given by security agencies. Should we get such a request (for revoking or impounding Malik's passport), we will carefully and promptly take action," official spokesperson in the ministry of external affairs said.

The "limited validity" passport was only issued to Malik after receiving a "no objection certificate" from various security agencies, he said.

According to sources, Malik's passport will expire March end while his month-long Pakistani visa is valid till February 26.

The sources said a person carrying Indian passport getting involved in political activities and staging protests on foreign soil against a decision of Indian government is a clear case of passport rules violation.

On the basis of the ongoing inquiry, Malik's questioning and inputs received from various agencies, the home ministry is likely to recommend to MEA to revoke his passport and may not allow him to visit Pakistan again.

Malik and other Kashmiri separatist leaders are normally given limited validity passport.

A similar action is likely to be taken against moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq if the reports about his meeting with LeT founder and India's most wanted terror mastermind are found to be true.

Security agencies are also verifying reports suggesting that Mirwaiz had met Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Sayeed Salahuddin secretly during his last visit to Pakistan.

Both Malik and Mirwaiz may be barred from visiting Pakistan again in future

On Monday, responding to a question on Malik sharing the dais with the LeT founder, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said, "I will look into the case."

Congress spokesman Sandeep Dikshit urged the UPA government to look into the issue which was described as "very unfortunate" by Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari.

BJP hit out at the government for allowing Malik to visit Pakistan and demanded confiscation of his passport.