LAHORE, Aug 9: First foreign student of a seminary has packed up to leave Pakistan for his hometown in Nepal on Wednesday (today). “My father teaches at a religious school in Mumbai. I am planning to leave Pakistan for India via Wagah border. I will have a meeting with my father before I proceed to my hometown,” Ahmad Ali, 21, told Dawn on Tuesday.

The student is leaving Jamia Naeemia as part of President Musharraf’s decision to expel all foreign students—1,400—from Pakistani seminaries.

Mr Ali said that he was enrolled in the religious school in 2001 for an eight-year programme. He added that he had completed almost half of his studies.

“I discussed the matter with my family. My family asked me to leave because they do not want me to see in trouble here. I wish if I could complete my studies.”

Mr Ali said that he would like to make it clear that the seminary students had nothing to do with terrorism. “They (the students) are just doing their studies in Pakistan. We find a good opportunity of studying religion in Pakistan,” he said.

Head of the seminary Dr Sarfraz Naeemi said that he was not happy over the decision of expelling foreign students. “He (Ali) had arrived in Pakistan with some great aims and dreams. His dreams are shattered now.”

Expelling the students, he believed, was like sending a message to the world that there was a situation of uncertainty and anarchy in Pakistan. “It neither serves the nation nor religion.”