Theresa May has promised to take action over a Dundee man’s 10-year wait to have his passport renewed.
The Prime Minister was challenged in the Commons on the plight of UK citizen Hassan Majid Mirza’s ordeal in getting the new document.
Mr Mirza last had a British passport in 2009 and wants it renewed so he can see his children in Pakistan.
But the Passport Office refuses to accept he is related to his late father in a dispute lasting years.
Stewart Hosie, the Dundee East MP, raised his case during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday.
The SNP politician said Mr Mirza has been trying to renew his passport “for the best part of the last decade”.
“For some of our fellow citizens, the system is clearly broken,” Mr Hosie said.
“So can I ask the Prime Minister, if her office, not the Home Secretary or the immigration minister, but if her office will review this case and then come back to this house and tell us, if waiting 10 years simply to renew a passport is even remotely acceptable?”
Mrs May replied: “Can I assure the honourable gentleman I will make sure the case is properly looked into.”
Mr Mirza, who works at Fairdeal in Ballindean Road, lost his passport and the authorities refuse to recognise a photocopy.
Despite have 30 documents proving his identity, the Passport Office has rejected his application three times.
Mr Mirza’s latest bid was rejected on the grounds he was “unable provide non-contemporaneous historical documentation to establish the relationship between Mr Mirza’s claimed father as well as his identity”.
But he said he will now reapply after his case was raised with the prime minister.
Pakistani authorities have provided him with an identity card confirming his immediate family tree.
Mr Mirza said: “I am not holding out much hope. Nobody is listening except Mr Hosie.
“If it wasn’t for his efforts we wouldn’t even be getting this far.
“It has gone to the highest level it can go with the Prime Minister and if nothing can be done then something is wrong.
“They have to come to a conclusion either to give me a passport and, if not, explain why not.”
Speaking after PMQs, Mr Hosie said: “I’m grateful to the prime minister for agreeing to look into this for my constituent. Hopefully soon we receive a satisfactory outcome.
“This case really highlights how shambolic the Home Office is when a British citizen is unable to do something as simple as renew his passport.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Her Majesty’s Passport Office will not issue a passport until all checks to confirm nationality and identity have been satisfactorily completed.”
