Pakistan would have changed had Sushma Swaraj been Prime Minister, a grateful Pakistani woman said after India’s External Affairs Minister directed the Indian High Commission in Islamabad to issue a visa for medical treatment.
Swaraj’s direction to India’s High Commissioner in Pakistan Gautam Bambawale came yesterday after a woman, Hijaab Asif, sought the Minister’s urgent intervention in giving visa to a Pakistani requiring medical treatment.
Touched by Swaraj’s prompt response, Asif said, “Lots and lots of love and respect from here. Wish you were our Prime Minister. This country would have changed.” Minutes after Swaraj’s tweet to Bambawale, the Indian mission tweeted that it was in touch with the applicant.
Maam, we are in touch with the applicant. Rest assured we will follow it up.
— India in Pakistan (@IndiainPakistan) July 27, 2017
“Ma’am, we are in touch with the applicant. Rest assured we will follow it up,” the Indian High Commission said in a tweet.
The External Affairs Minister had a few weeks ago said Pakistani nationals seeking visas for medical treatment in India must accompany their visa applications with a recommendation letter by her Pakistani counterpart Sartaj Aziz.
@SushmaSwaraj what do I call you? Superwoman? God? No words to describe your generosity! Love you maam Can't stop praising you in tears!🙏🏻❤️
— Hijaab asif (@Hijaab_asif) July 27, 2017
Pakistanis don't deserve her at all
— Hijaab asif (@Hijaab_asif) July 27, 2017
Lots and lost of love and respect from here. Wish you were our Prime Minister, this country would've changed!
— Hijaab asif (@Hijaab_asif) July 27, 2017
“Dear ma’am, spoke to DHC (Deputy High Commissioner) in Islamabad, told the patient’s current condition and he said it’s all up to you. If you allow,” Asif had tweeted earlier. The patient is suffering from serious liver ailment and needs urgent treatment in India, she said.
A number of Pakistanis travel to India for medical treatment - several hospitals have reported receiving as many as 500 patients a month. But the medical visa process has slowed down after a Pakistani military court sentenced Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav to death on allegations of espionage.
As Pakistan failed to respond to India's pleas for consular access to Mr Jadhav, Ms Swaraj tore into Pakistan's Foreign Ministry adviser Sartaj Aziz, saying he "did not have the courtesy" to acknowledge her letters on Mr Jadhav. She then tweeted that Pakistani citizens needing a medical visa for India must have a letter from their foreign ministry.
Earlier this month, she helped Osama Ali, a man from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir who needed visa to come to Delhi to get treatment for his liver tumour. Mr Ali said Mr Aziz had refused to write to the Indian High Commission for his visa. Ms Swaraj pointed out that Mr Ali, being a resident of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, which belongs to India, did not need any letter from Pakistan.
Before asking Indian officials to look into Ms Asif's case, Ms Swaraj had also taken a dig at Mr Aziz, asking if he refused to provide a letter in "such a serious case".
