THIS refers to the letter ‘British visa refusals’ (May 4) by Imdad Ahmed Mian. I agree with the writer that the British laptop diplomats are ignorant about the social, cultural and religious structure of Pakistani society.

I have suffered the same insensitive and insulting behaviour of British visa authorities. Three weeks ago, I applied for a visit visa to see, for one last time, my brother-in-law who was terminally ill with cancer and the doctors had given him only a few days of life.

I made a passionate request elaborating the family situation, along with a sponsorship letter from my sister who is a British national, certificates and reports of doctors concerning the condition of my brother-in-law.

Moreover, I surrendered on oath, my commercial property worth about Rs10m, all my academic and professional degrees, a hefty bank statement of my wife, who is a government employee in grade-18, along with my own and an affidavit from her to affirm complete family support.

I also offered to surrender my passport at the British airport and promised to present the same at the Islamabad high commission on my return within a few days. All went in vain. The answer was: “I am not satisfied that you are genuinely seeking the visa and will come back.”

My humane and gentle brother-in-law died recently and with him have died, at least for me, all the myths about the traditions of humanism and human rights of British society.

M. A. Mahmood

Sargodha

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2015

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