KATHMANDU, JANUARY 5: The Nepalese Government has ordered expulsion of a junior diplomat of the Pakistani embassy in Kathmandu for his alleged involvement in counterfeit Indian currency dealing, officials said today.Wassim Saboor was allegedly caught with fake Indian currency worth Rs 50,000 on Sunday while trying to sell them to a Nepalese government agent.He was arrested by police on Monday morning and his residence was searched as he told the agent he had access to a large supply of the banknotes.Nothing was found in the search, which was also attended by a senior Pakistani embassy diplomat, police said.Police claimed Saboor had destroyed the counterfeit banknotes and other illegal materials by setting fire to them and flushing them from the bathroom.The Nepal foreign ministry wrote to Pakistan's embassy advising it no longer recognised Saboor's diplomatic immunity. A foreign ministry source said no response was received and it was decided to expel Saboor from Nepal within 72 hours.An official press note issued by the foreign ministry said "Wassim Saboor was involved in action incompatible to his official status. Therefore he was ordered to leave Kathmandu within 72 hours."The Pakistani embassy issued a press statement on Monday denying any involvement by Saboor in counterfeit currency dealing. The search of his residence yielded nothing illegal, it noted.
