The recent deportation of British-American journalist Charles Glass from Pakistan lets raise the issue that covers Immigration legislation, Journalistic ethics and political aspects. Glass, a British national and a news reporter especially for the Middle East countries, was detained and deported from Pakistan due to violating tourist visa status. This event has led to heated debates about the laws regulating the foreign journalists and other consequences which the Pakistani society and political life may face as result of such actions.

Charles Glass reached Pakistan on tourist visa and as per the rules of the country any kind of work including journalism is strictly barred for a tourist visa ‘visitor’. The main purpose of the tourist visa is for leisure and personal visits; therefore, practicing journalism without proper accreditation is a violation of this visa’s provisions. The Pakistani authorities have continued claiming that Glass’s deportation was simply an implementation of these regulations. However, this has sparked some concern regarding the decisions’ wider implications, especially to matters of press freedom and political stand during those episodes.

It would be pertinent to note that visa regulations are key components of sovereignty and security of different nations across the globe. Resident visas such as the ones held by Glass are meant to prompt the users to stick to the intended reason of visit. In trying to carry out interviews and obtain information on the politically explosive issues concerning Imran Khan, Glass transgressed the limits of his visa. This operation alone violates Pakistani immigration rules and also sets an example of the unpredictable nature of working with foreign media in contentious territories.

Such acts invite legal penalties and consequences such as deportation, fines and or ban from any future entry. Therefore,........

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