January 22, 2003	Wednesday	Ziqa’ad 18, 1423

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WASHINGTON, Jan 21: In response to an appeal by a Pakistani advocacy group, many lawyers have offered free services to those Pakistanis who have to register with the US Immigration and Naturalization Service.

In an appeal published here on Monday, the Washington-based National Council of Pakistani Americans had reminded the lawyers that many Pakistanis cannot afford to engage a lawyer to represent them before the INS during the registration.

The US government has asked visitors from 25 mainly Muslim countries to register with the INS or face arrest and deportation.

Since more than 1,200 Muslim immigrants were detained in the first phase of registration, many Pakistanis are reluctant to register and seeking legal advice.

Immigration lawyers are charging as much as $10,000 a person for representing immigrants, a fee most immigrants cannot afford.

Consequently, Muslim and Pakistan welfare organizations are urging Muslim lawyers to come forward and help those who need their services. Some of them have also set up welfare funds to help those in need of financial support.

Responding to the NCPA’s appeal, lawyers Syed Naiyer Izfar, (phone: 713-467-0786, fax: 713-467-2424), Khalid Mahmood (phone: 703-241-7552) and Amal Oummih (phone: 718-726-6200) have offered free services and advised those who need their help to get in touch with them.