Pakistan
18 January 2006
Due to public and media interest in the circumstances surrounding Mr Khalid
Mahmood Rashid, the Department of Home Affairs wishes to make a statement in
this regard. It is our conviction that this matter will be discussed on an
informed basis of fact rather than speculations.
An article titled "Home Affairs gets ultimatum" appeared in The Citizen
newspaper on Saturday, 14 January 2006, regarding the deportation of Khalid
Mahmood Rashid, a Pakistani national, to Pakistan.
The article states that "The family's attorney, Zehir Omar, told The Citizen
a letter from Home Affairs stated that Rashid had been deported to Pakistan on
November 6."
This statement by Zehir Omar is deliberately misleading the public in that
no such letter was at any stage written by the Department of Home Affairs to
Zehir Omar as stated. Mr Omar is aware that the Department's attorney served
and filed a notice in compliance with a court order. The notice states that
Rashid has been deported to Pakistan, being his country of origin. This is
clearly in line with immigration practices worldwide regarding the treatment of
illegal foreign nationals.
The matter is still sub judice as the Department will be filing its opposing
affidavits by the end of January 2006, in terms of the agreement reached with
Omar. The Department finds Mr Omar's conduct to be unethical and in breach of
the sub judice rule. Accordingly, the Department intends reporting this
unethical conduct to the Law Society of the Northern Province.
The Department of Home Affairs is committed to strengthening our systems and
enforcement measures. This is to ensure that only those foreign nationals with
valid status documents are allowed to enter and sojourn in South Africa, and
that illegal foreigners are effectively deported.
Enquiries: Nkosana Sibuyi, Head of Communication
Cell: 082 88 66 708
E-mail: Nkosana.sibuyi@dha.gov.za
Website: http://www.dha.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Home Affairs
18 January 2006
