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Pak consulate official in NY declared 'out of status'

     New York: Consular Assistant at the Pakistan consulate in New York, Mohammad Yunus Qureshi, who was held a couple of days ago by American authorities for allegedly having links with a mosque (in US) which is under surveillance, has reportedly been declared "out of status" by the US immigration authorities, after his request for the renewal of work permit was denied. Quoting sources in New York, the Dawn reported that Consul General Shaukat Haroon, who has been pursuing the case, was told that Qureshi's stay was illegal. According to the paper, the US law enforcement authorities picked Qureshi from outside the consulate on Thursday evening, and handcuffed before taking him to a detention centre in New Jersey. Haroon said that he had contacted the detained official. He said that Qureshi told him that he had an authorization to stay before it was subsequently turned down. "We are in touch with the authorities concerned and they are cooperating with us," he added. Qureshi has been working at the Consulate General for the past 15 years, said the report.