Fresh hope for asylum family (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Fresh hope for asylum family

7:00pm Saturday 11th November 2006

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A FAMILY of asylum seekers threatened with deportation have been told they will not yet be kicked out of the country - but the reprieve could only be temporary.

The Home Office has confirmed it will not deport the Karim family until a full appeal into their asylum claim has finished.

The news comes after a barrister was appointed to push for a judicial review into the Home Office decision to reject the Nelson family's asylum bid. A formal application for the inquiry is to be submitted on Monday.

The Home Office earlier said the couple were the subject of absconder' action, meaning they could have been arrested at any time.

On Thursday, immigration officials visited their home to arrest them, but the family was out. Later that evening hundreds of people packed Christ Church, Nelson for a public meeting in which Pearl told how her cousin was murdered in their home country, forcing them to flee from Karachi four years ago.

Nigel and Pearl Karim, 52 and 44, children Crystal, 14 and 12-year-old Calvin, of Barkerhouse Road, fear they will be killed because of their Christian faith if the return to Pakistan.

Pearl's father Fred 75, said: "We have been in contact with the solicitor in London and a barrister has accepted the case. An application for a judicial review will be held on Monday. This is good news and we have to keep the pressure on the Home Office."

Pendle MP Gordon Prentice has promised to present a petition signed by thousands of people to Home Secretary John Reid.

In May, the Karims were ejected from their home by police and immigration officials after their first asylum plea.

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

A Home Office spokesman said: "Asylum seekers have the right to an independent appeal process. They have to exhaust that route before we would forcibly remove them from the country. The length of a judicial review depends on the circumstances of the application and where they are from."

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