Asylum fanily told to leave country

7:00pm Thursday 2nd November 2006

A family is still fighting to stay in the country despite being told they have to leave.

Nigel and Pearl Karim and their children Crystal and Calvin - pupils at Fisher-More High School, Colne, have been ordered to return to Pakistan.

The Home Office rejected their second asylum bid following "discrediting evidence."

The family moved to Nelson in 2002 seeking asylum and said they would be killed if they returned to Pakistan because of their Christian faith.

After the latest blow the family's solicitor, Kiran Panesar, has written to the Home Office demanding immigration officials consider the evidence or they will plan a judicial review.

She said: "The family were voluntarily expected to return by October 31 but have written to the Home Office challenging their refusal saying all the evidence should be considered.

"I am expecting them to be given a fresh claim to appeal otherwise I will seek a judicial review."

The move follows reports that Nigel, 53, Pearl, 44, Crystal, 13, and Calvin, 11, had won a reprieve in their fight which Mrs Panesar denied.

When contacted by the Lancashire Telegraph Nigel also said he had not been told. In May the family were ejected from their home in Barkerhouse Road by police and immigration officials after their first plea for asylum was denied.

They were taken to the Yarlswood detention centre, Bedfordshire, but allowed home after being given more time to prepare a second bid.

Hundreds of members of the community rallied to support the Karims.

Nigel said the family were trying to get on with their lives and he and Pearl were preparing for Crystal and Calvin's birthdays tomorrow.

He said: "For the past week we have been down in the dumps but the children are getting excited because it is their birthday and this year it is in the school holidays."

A Home Office spokesman said he could not comment on individual cases but said if the Karims were given a reprieve the family or their solicitor would have been informed.