The US embassy in Islamabad has reportedly rejected visa applications of at least 10 members of Pakistan's National Assembly and the Senate nominated to attend the United Nations General Assembly session in New York.
According to a report in Friday's Daily Times, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had granted permission to 15 members of Parliament to visit New York from November 12 to 24, at public expense.
"Such visits to New York for the UN General Assembly session, at a time when the session is practically over and the MPs have little to contribute, have been used to 'oblige' legislators wanting a free trip to the US," states the report.
"Much of their time, it has been observed, is spent visiting relatives and friends, shopping or sight-seeing," the report said..
The important work of the General Assembly is usually completed in the first three to four weeks; thereafter the nature of the work is technical, performed by UN staff and professional diplomats.
No other country sends as many delegates to the General Assembly as Pakistan. The delegates also keep much of the staff of the Pakistan Mission and the Pakistan Consulate engaged in 'protocol' duties rather than their assigned work.
However, when contacted, officials in the National Assembly Secretariat expressed ignorance about the rejection of applications.
"They (US embassy officials) take time to complete formalities, but never reject any visas sought for Pakistani parliamentarians either by the Assembly Secretariat or the Prime Minister's Office," a senior National Assembly official told UNI in Islamabad on Friday.
The rejection of their visa applications is likely to save the Pakistani taxpayer millions of dollars.