LONDON: The indignities suffered by Pakistani travellers at the hands of British immigration officials were spotlighted today [June 25] by the “Sunday Times” which disclosed that a Pakistani resident in Bradford was “forced to spend a month in a Brussels gaol” after being mistakenly refused entry into this country.

Mr Roy Jenkins, Britain’s Home Secretary, is reported to have personally ordered an inquiry into the wrongful deportation of this Pakistani resident of Bradford, Mr Shahid Ali, who speaks only Bengali. It is not known what steps have been taken about his wrongful imprisonment in Belgium after he had been deported to Ostend.

Multiplying deportations of Pakistani travellers from London airport and other places and growing complaints against the attitude of a number of immigration officials here call for effective measures to end this situation which can only undermine Anglo-Pakistan relations.

One way out may be residence visas or permits similar to those given to aliens in order to protect the interests and honour of Pakistani and other Commonwealth residents in Britain.

[Meanwhile, as reported by agencies in Cairo,] ex-King Saud of Saudi Arabia, living here since early this year, yesterday [June 24] loaned the UAR Government 10 million dollars for a year without interest. According to an official announcement here, the money will be used to pay for necessary imports.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2017