ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik has declined to appear before the Abbottabad inquiry commission because of “his official engagements”.

Sources in the commission told Dawn that a letter was written three weeks ago to the minister, summoning him for recording his statement.

“The minister’s reply was received on Wednesday, saying that he could not attend the meeting due to some other engagement,” the sources said. Mr Malik was called by the commission to give a detailed presentation on the US operation in Abbottabad, visa policy and security issues.

But instead of appearing before it the minister invited the commission to the interior ministry for the presentation, the sources said.

The minister told the commission that it would be briefed on security and visa policy in a week.

Talking to reporters at a convention of Anjuman Tulaba-i-Islam, Mr Malik said the reports about his summoning by the commission had wrongly been interpreted.

He said the commission was seeking a briefing on security and visa policy, so it would be briefed within a week at the interior ministry.

“Whenever the commission will summon me I will appear before it,” he said.

The minister claimed that no foreigner would be allowed to stay in the country without a visa. If somebody tried to enter the country without a visa, action would be taken according to law.