State of helplessness: Visa for injured APS student held up
Ahmad’s father says Pakistani govt has not yet fulfilled its promise of financial cover.
Yousafzai telephoned him on Sunday and inquired about Ahmad’s condition. PHOTO: AFP
PESHAWAR:
The British High Commission has reportedly denied injured Army Public School student Ahmad Nawaz a visa to receive medical assistance in the United Kingdom (UK).
His father Muhammad Nawaz is stranded at crossroads. While the family has yet to cope with the traumatic death of Muhammad’s younger offspring, 14-year-old Haris Nawaz, his older son Ahmad Nawaz remains bedridden at Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), awaiting divine intervention to recover from the limb injury he sustained during the brazen December 16 attack.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Muhammad Nawaz said the high commission has yet to receive documentary evidence of the transfer of £0.2 million to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, UK, from the Pakistani government.
Earlier, medics at the LRH had advised Muhammad to shift his son to another hospital equipped with the necessary facilities – following which both the federal and provincial governments had trumpeted hefty donations for his treatment abroad.
Muhammad said after reviewing his son’s documents, the high commission stalled the visa on the pretext of missing evidence of financial cover. The irked father said one of his sons rests six feet under while the other’s condition is worsening by the day, but the government has yet to come to his aid. He said same old promises were repeated when the officials concerned were contacted.
Muhammad had earlier lamented how Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai was given immediate medical assistance abroad while his son awaits attention. Yousafzai telephoned him on Sunday and inquired about Ahmad’s condition. “She said she will receive Ahmad at the airport and request Pakistani authorities to honour him with a national award,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 3rd, 2015.
The British High Commission has reportedly denied injured Army Public School student Ahmad Nawaz a visa to receive medical assistance in the United Kingdom (UK).
His father Muhammad Nawaz is stranded at crossroads. While the family has yet to cope with the traumatic death of Muhammad’s younger offspring, 14-year-old Haris Nawaz, his older son Ahmad Nawaz remains bedridden at Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), awaiting divine intervention to recover from the limb injury he sustained during the brazen December 16 attack.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Muhammad Nawaz said the high commission has yet to receive documentary evidence of the transfer of £0.2 million to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, UK, from the Pakistani government.
Earlier, medics at the LRH had advised Muhammad to shift his son to another hospital equipped with the necessary facilities – following which both the federal and provincial governments had trumpeted hefty donations for his treatment abroad.
Muhammad said after reviewing his son’s documents, the high commission stalled the visa on the pretext of missing evidence of financial cover. The irked father said one of his sons rests six feet under while the other’s condition is worsening by the day, but the government has yet to come to his aid. He said same old promises were repeated when the officials concerned were contacted.
Muhammad had earlier lamented how Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai was given immediate medical assistance abroad while his son awaits attention. Yousafzai telephoned him on Sunday and inquired about Ahmad’s condition. “She said she will receive Ahmad at the airport and request Pakistani authorities to honour him with a national award,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 3rd, 2015.