Dubai: The case of Najeeb Makhdoum, who was barred from leaving the UAE due to a bounced cheque, has been resolved as it was based on a "misunderstanding", according to a statement issued by the Pakistan Consulate General in Dubai.
Makhdoum, son of prominent Pakistani minister Makhdoum Amin Fahim, was allowed to travel to Pakistan on Sunday after the issue was settled and his passport was returned by the police.
Gulf News reported on Sunday that Najeeb had been barred from travelling out of the country because of a bounced cheque.
According to the consular statement, on Saturday afternoon while going to Pakistan on a regular business trip, he was informed by the immigration officials at the Dubai International Airport that his name had come up in a case pending with a UAE free zone authority. He was barred from travelling until his name was cleared.
Makdoum then visited the police station concerned in order to find out about the case.
"Since it was not a working day for the free zone authority and their offices were also closed, he was advised to wait and resolve the issue," the statement read.
"Upon reporting of the above incident, the community welfare section at the Pakistan Consulate, as per practice, sent its staff to ascertain the situation," it added.
Later, Makhdoum was asked to consult the free zone authority and was allowed to leave the police station after submitting his travel documents, as per standard practice.
"The next day, the free zone authority not only apologised for the incident but immediately withdrew its complaint, which was based on a misunderstanding," claimed the Pakistan Consulate General statement.
Makhdoum, who is a businessman, has been a Dubai resident since 1998.
