Asylum family pray to stay

12:11pm Saturday 13th January 2007

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AN asylum seeker under the threat of deportation is praying his family have won their fight to stay in Nelson.

Nigel Karim, 53, said he was not contemplating being booted out of the country after it was rumoured the Home Office had made a final decision on the family's asylum application.

Nigel, his wife Pearl, 44, and their two children Crystal, 14 and Calvin, 12, fled from Pakistan five years ago after he converted to Christianity.

The family fear they will be killed if they return because of their faith.

The family have lost two bids to stay in the country and their case is currently going through a judicial review in the courts.

Now it is believed the Home Office yesterday sent its response to the High Court and a final decision should now be made in the next few weeks.

Nigel said: "I have not heard anything from the Home Office or the courts but I have heard the Home Office has submitted it and a decision should be made in one or two weeks.

"I am not thinking negative thoughts and have not contemplated going back to Pakistan.

"I am praying we will be allowed to stay and I am remaining positive. There is nothing more we can do than that."

The family's case has won huge support from people in Nelson and over 3,000 people have signed a petition demanding the Karim's are not kicked out of the country.

Pendle MP Gordon Prentice has taken up their fight and in the House of Commons last month said how a £6,000 bounty is being offered in Pakistan for the death of Nigel.

Last weekend wellwishers at the Karim's parish church, of Christ Church, Carr Road, raised hundreds of pounds in a fundraiser which will go towards the family's legal costs.