Muhammad Shahzaib Bajwa, 20, was spending a semester in an exchange programme at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. PHOTO: SHAHZAIB'S FACEBOOK PROFILE
The US State Department extended the deportation deadline for Pakistani exchange student Shahzaib Bajwa by one month on Friday, NBC News reported.
The 20-year-old will be allowed to stay in the country until March 28.
His brother, Shahraiz Bajwa, had said earlier that Shahzaib's health has improved and he showed signs of recovery. He had also stated that the insurance company will pay the medical bills and Shahzaib will be treated in the US.
Background
Shahzaib was spending a semester in an exchange programme at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, studying anthropology and sociology.
On November 13, 2013, he and his friends were driving back to the university from Minneapolis when their car struck a deer, his brother Shahraiz had said.
What was meant to be an academic semester abroad through a State Department-backed exchange programme has turned into a complex journey through US insurance, medical and visa regulations for the family from Faisalabad.
The brother had earlier said that the insurance company was pressing the family to sign off on returning Shahzaib to Pakistan once his visa runs out at the end of the month, threatening not to pay evacuation costs if the family refuses.
“My mother is not going to sign because that would be like killing her son with her own hand,” the brother had stated.
COMMENTS (12)
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He's not a us citizen. USA owes him nothing. Pakistan should take up his case and arrange for his medical treatment.
@mrdotcom: He was enrolled in college in Pakistan on a scholarship. His family does not have enough funds to support his medical expense if he returned and was admitted to a Hospital in Pakistan. That is why he needs to stay there and hope the insurance pays for his recovery.
@Faiez: I would say that is a decent amount considering the circumstances. Good job by the Pakistani muslim community.
@mrdotcom: The last report I read was that he was in a coma. So, he cannot cry or recognize anyone to miss them. One month extension of visa does not do that much good for him. I feel his visa should have been extended more and also the Pakistani and muslim community should have come up with money for his continued treatment if they really cared.
I feel very sorry for him and his family that he met with such a terrible accident.
This sounds so much like Raymond Davis saga, except that here there is no "villain", and everyone is trying hard to find one. The story should die now. Not sure how much you want to milk out of this.
@mrdotcom: Shahzaib suffered from a severe traumatic brain injury; until that injury heals into safe levels, air travel would put his life/health at serious risk. Hence his family's battle to keep him there for now.
@mrdotcom: Shahzaib suffered from a severe traumatic brain injury. Until that injury is healed into safe levels, he would be medically unable to fly; travelling before that would place his life/health at serious risk.
Wish him speedy recovery
GooD (Y)