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APL OBJECTS TO PAK-UK STATEMENT TO DENY GENUINE REFUGEES FROM PAKISTAN
Association of Pakistani Lawyers, a team of Pakistani origin lawyers, Solicitors, Barristers, Judges in the UK has taken serious note of the announcement of British Immigration Minister Damien Green and his Pakistani counterpart Dr. Rehman Malik’s in a press statement in Islamabad giving an impression of agreeing to deny genuine refugees or asylum claimants from Pakistan who come to UK and Europe.
APL welcomes the forthcoming task force tackling human trafficking, smuggling narcotics, discouraging gang masters as well as intelligence sharing mechanism to combat terrorism and speedy grant of business visas but any unilateral attempt to exclude asylum protection for Pakistanis at the UK & EU borders will be discriminatory and will be strongly detested in European Court of Human Rights as a violation of the convention. Asylum laws are not there to aid Governments but promote freedom of thought and conscience, and support those who champions political rights and struggle against tyranny to attain democracies in their countries.
APL said that, “we will object to any attempt to deport Pakistanis without due process of law negating the compliance with Geneva Convention 1951 as we have been supporting the idea that the current British Home Secretary should consult with all stakeholders & chalk out a strategy to bring all those in the Immigration net who have long been toiling in our black economy as slaves”.
APL has expressed reservations at this development and is of the view that both Govts cannot deny individuals a right of international protection, fair trial and due process which benefitted in the past the current Interior Minister, both premiers and is currently aiding the former military dictator as that is the beauty of British law and judicial system to protect people who fear persecution for their long held belief or reasons of race , colour, nationality or political association and or unfair trial, torture & ill treatment in their country of origin. The obvious example of political activists who sought such protection and fought the tyranny of Gen. Musharraf are in the country (Pakistan), and the General himself is in the United Kingdom in search of and is seeking such protection under the same established principles.
APL reminded of Chief Inspector, John Vine’s report of November 2010 on possible discrimination with Pakistanis in visa process which depicts a bitter reality which the Pakistanis face day in day out and remedial steps need to be taken to assure the Overseas Pakistani community of fairness and justice.
APL looks forward to a statement from both British Premier David Cameron and Pakistani Prime Minister ensuring that any changes to the immigration system will operate in a fair, transparent and judicious manner, while protecting and promoting the competitive position of successful UK businesses and compliance with the basic human rights provisions duly protected by the Geneva Convention 1951 and European Convention on Human Rights 1950.
Barrister Amjad Malik
Chair & Members of the Executive
Association of Pakistani Lawyers (UK)
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