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Time is ticking for Leeds family awaiting deportation
A Pakistani who fled after facing death threats has written movingly from a Government detention centre.
Saleem Saddiq, wife Saima and their children Zulekha, four, and Abdul, 21 months, were arrested at their home in Harehills, Leeds, when police and immigration officers broke down their door last week.
The family has been refused asylum and is awaiting deportation in Yarlswood detention centre in Bedfordshire.
Mr Saddiq, a political activist in Pakistan, wrote to the YEP: "I fled in July 2005 and we claimed asylum at Heathrow. I had been attacked twice and once I was abducted at gunpoint.
"I thought that our problem is over and I am going to live a peaceful life with my family but I was wrong.
"I have provided substantial evidence to the Home Office but they have turned down everything. After a very long struggle and hard work my asylum claim has been refused.
"I have a son born in the UK, now 21 months old. My daughter is four years and she is happy, settled and attending Holy Rosary nursery in Harehills.
"I was struggling with depression since my ordeal in Pakistan. Now I am excelling on a BTEC National Award in Airport and Airline operations.
"My wife volunteered with Sure Start , helping families to integrate, and studied English, maths and computers to a high level.
"On February 26 around 6.45 am around 10 police raided my house. They banged the door so hard but we did not open the door because we were so scared. My children were terrified, they were screaming.
"Finally they broke the door and get into the house and they are shouting 'Police, police, police' and rushed to the top room.
"They brought me and my wife to the ground floor and then they brought down my children. They have taken our mobile phones and they said that you are not allowed to make any phone call unless you have reached the reporting centre. After that they separate me and my wife and given 20 minutes to pack up our belongings."
The family was first detained at Riverside immigration centre in Kirkstall Road than transferred to Yarls Wood.
"Due to the panic I lost my documents which I received from the Home office," said Mr Saddiq.
"I am writing this letter in my room and it is 3 o' clock in the night. My wife and my children are sleeping and the clock is ticking very fast and we are running out of time. It is a very uncertain situation and I think this will be the end of our story."
Leeds friends at Park Lane College and Leeds No Borders group are campaigning for the family to be allowed to stay.
The Home Office said it could not comment on individual cases.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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