Double Standards of Pakistan Government in Dealing with High Profile Deportations

E ILAHI

The brother of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Wajahat Hussain and his other family members were detained last Tuesday at Gatwick airport under the anti-terror law for serveral hours. They were on their way to UK from Spain. According to newsreports, 'Commander Wajahat' as he is referred to in Gujrat had left for Europe to organize pro-Mush rallies everywhere Mush was to visit. Afterwards, they were deported to Pakistan.

The Foreign Office was quick to summon Britain’s Acting High Commissioner on Friday to protest and tell them they deplored the treatment given to the Chaudhries. According to Dawn, Pakistan High Commission in London was pursuing the matter with the British authorities (as of last Friday). As if that was not enough, an envoy from the British High Commission in Islamabad went to the residence of Chaudhry Shujaat on Friday to personally apologize on behalf of the British government. As if that was 'yet' not enough, Chaudhry Shujaat flew out to London himself yesterday in order to take legal action against those who ordered the deportation. Apparently, he is not satisfied with the 'regrets' expressed by the British High Commission and feels his relatives were humiliated.

Now take the case of Abdul Sattar Edhi. On Jan. 8th he was stopped at London on his way to New York. After he arrived in New York on Jan. 9th he was detained for several hours and was questioned about his beard among other things! According to reports, his Pakistani passport and US green card have been seized and he is not allowed to return to Pakistan until the matter is solved; which might be Feb. 20th when the US Immigration authorities have decided to deal with the issue. He was also reportedly threatened intially with deportation from the US. Yesterday, the Foreign Office said it was trying to resolve the issue. As Dawn has reported, this was the third time that Edhi was detained at an airport abroad. In 2006, he was investigated by Canadian authorities at Toronto and in 2007 he was detained at the New York airport.

It would be a great shame if the Foreign Office and Government of Pakistan do not protest and make greater noise than they did when it came to the entourage of the Chaudhries!

After all, Abdul Sattar Edhi is our national hero who is even recognized internationally for his humanitarian and welfare work. A person who actually does do something for the benefit of the people of Pakistan, not for his own benefit unlike our run-of-the-mill politicians. Lets wait and watch how much time and 'power' it takes the Foreign Office this time to resolve the issue of Abdul Sattar Edhi, if at all.