Council backs pupil's deportation fight
Carmarthenshire County Council has thrown its support behind a school’s bid to fight a deportation order served on one of its pupils.
Carmarthen’s Queen Elizabeth High School is working closely with barristers acting on behalf of student Ahmer Rana, who is due to be deported to Pakistan.
Mr Rana was smuggled in to the UK aged 14 by his parents who feared that he was in danger of being killed by enemies of his father.
He has sinced been cared for by a foster family in Nantycaws, Carmarthen.
The UK Border Agency had told Mr Rana that he must leave the UK following his 18th birthday on Christmas Day. An appeal court judge also agreed that he should leave the UK, saying that Mr Rana had failed to prove that he faces persecution.
Now, barristers acting on his behalf have now lodged an extension in the High Court so that a further appeal can be made for him to stay in the UK.
As part of this legal challenge, the school, and Mr Rana’s barristers, had asked the county council if it would support its legal challenge to the High Court to allow him to stay.
And in a meeting of full council, all political parties unanimously agreed to write a letter in support of the school’s fight.
Council leader, Cllr Meryl Gravell, said in the meeting: “It is the school that we are supporting - this young man has been part of the school and the local community for a number of years.”
Leader of the opposition, Cllr Peter Hughes-Griffiths, added: “It’s important that the council writes to the barristers in support of the school.”
And leader of the Labour group, Cllr Kevin Madge, also confirmed his party’s support, endorsing both the leader, and the leader of the opposition’s comments.
During his time in Carmarthen, Mr Rana has excelled at school, joined local sports teams and has made many firm friends.
His friends are behind a 3,500 signature petition collected in Carmarthen, and have set up a Facebook support group which has 1,500 members, all calling for him to be allowed to stay in the UK.
Mr Rana, an only child from Lahore in Pakistan, has had no contact with his parents since he left.
Carmarthen’s Queen Elizabeth High School is working closely with barristers acting on behalf of student Ahmer Rana, who is due to be deported to Pakistan.
Mr Rana was smuggled in to the UK aged 14 by his parents who feared that he was in danger of being killed by enemies of his father.
He has sinced been cared for by a foster family in Nantycaws, Carmarthen.
The UK Border Agency had told Mr Rana that he must leave the UK following his 18th birthday on Christmas Day. An appeal court judge also agreed that he should leave the UK, saying that Mr Rana had failed to prove that he faces persecution.
Now, barristers acting on his behalf have now lodged an extension in the High Court so that a further appeal can be made for him to stay in the UK.
As part of this legal challenge, the school, and Mr Rana’s barristers, had asked the county council if it would support its legal challenge to the High Court to allow him to stay.
And in a meeting of full council, all political parties unanimously agreed to write a letter in support of the school’s fight.
Council leader, Cllr Meryl Gravell, said in the meeting: “It is the school that we are supporting - this young man has been part of the school and the local community for a number of years.”
Leader of the opposition, Cllr Peter Hughes-Griffiths, added: “It’s important that the council writes to the barristers in support of the school.”
And leader of the Labour group, Cllr Kevin Madge, also confirmed his party’s support, endorsing both the leader, and the leader of the opposition’s comments.
During his time in Carmarthen, Mr Rana has excelled at school, joined local sports teams and has made many firm friends.
His friends are behind a 3,500 signature petition collected in Carmarthen, and have set up a Facebook support group which has 1,500 members, all calling for him to be allowed to stay in the UK.
Mr Rana, an only child from Lahore in Pakistan, has had no contact with his parents since he left.
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