Further written evidence submitted by
Ashfaq Ahmad
1. My name is Ashfaq Ahmad. I am 76 years old.
I am a British Citizen who has been living in the UK since 1963.
I am the father of Babar Ahmad who has been imprisoned for six
and a half years while he awaits extradition to the US. I am making
this statement to explain the impact Babar's extradition proceedings
are having on me and my family.
2. I first came to the UK from Pakistan on 1
March 1963. I worked as a civil servant in London between the
years of 1973 and 1994. Among the reasons why I came to this country
was the desire to raise my children in a society where they would
be safe and secure and where they would be able to obtain the
best education and opportunities.
3. My wife and I struggled to raise decent law
abiding children who would have a positive influence on the society
they live in. My wife is a qualified school teacher who obtained
an MSc in Botany and Zoology in Pakistan. All four of my children
were awarded merit based scholarships to attend public schools
and went on to study at top universities in the UK. My eldest
son obtained an MBA. Babar graduated with a degree in Engineering,
my elder daughter is a qualified medical doctor and my younger
daughter is a pharmacist.
4. In the 48 years I have lived in this country,
I have always respected the laws and culture of Britain. I have
raised my children in a similar fashion, teaching them to respect
others, especially their elders and those in authority over them.
We are a law abiding family. Nobody in my family has ever been
charged with a criminal offence, either in the UK or anywhere
else in the world.
5. Before Babar's arrest, I was so happy with
my life. I was retired, happily married and three of my four children
had graduated with my youngest just beginning university. I had
four grandchildren at that time and our lives were filled with
happiness. Babar used to look after me and my wife in a way that
children do not do so anymore. He would vacuum the house for us,
paint and decorate, do our grocery shopping, take out the rubbish,
take us to doctor appointments, take us to see our friends, sort
out any gas and electricity problems we had. We are both elderly
and found these things difficult.
6. With Babar's arrest and imprisonment, life
suddenly became extremely difficult. It was not simply the fact
that he was not with us anymore but the fact that he was in prison,
not just any prison, but a maximum security prison. Furthermore,
it was the fact that he was facing extradition to the US on allegations
of terrorism. I fear that if Babar is sent to the US, I will never
see him again. Having watched the news reports about Guantanamo
Bay and how the US treats terror suspects, I am terrified as to
how they will treat Babar if he is extradited.
7. It is both my natural love for Babar and my
fear for him that has driven me to exert myself in campaigning
for his release for six and a half years. During this time, I
have travelled up and down the UK, as far as Edinburgh, campaigning
for Babar's release. I have spoken at many public meetings and
conferences, and met with dozens of politicians and journalists
to discuss Babar's case. My children have left no stone unturned
in their struggle to get justice for their brother. They have
written to every MP and Peer in the country, collected petitions,
organised demonstrations and vigils, prepared reports, maintained
a website and formed relationships with numerous national and
international human rights groups. As a family, we have known
no other life but Babar's for the last six and a half years.
8. So much has happened in this time in our lives
but it was always incomplete without Babar's presence. Six more
grandchildren were born to us by my other children. Weddings,
births, deaths, graduations - so many unique occasions of happiness
in our lives that were incomplete knowing that Babar was not with
us.
9. I could never have imagined that the twilight
years of my life would be spent in such misery and suffering in
this country that I love so much. These years, since Babar was
arrested in August 2004, have been the most painful years of my
entire life. I have not had my son beside me for those times in
which I have needed him the most. Babar's grandmother passed away
last summer. My sister died of cancer just last month. These were
times that I really missed having Babar around to speak with and
to comfort me.
10. One of the aspects I find most difficult
of Babar's imprisonment is the long and exhausting journeys to
visit him in prison every week. For six and a half years, we have
been visiting him almost every week, sometimes twice a week. It
is not an easy journey for an elderly couple like us. I used to
drive in the early years of his imprisonment when he was detained
at HMP Woodhill but after he was transferred to HMP Manchester
and then HMP Long Lartin, the drive was too long for me. Now,
we are taken on visits by family friends who take out their whole
day to chauffeur us to and from the prison. We only see Babar
for around two hours after which we return to London, usually
arriving home around 8 pm, a whole 11 hours later.
11. This all has had an immense impact on my
health. In 2007, I suffered some severe chest pains and had to
undergo an angioplasty in hospital. I often fear whether I will
even be around when Babar comes out. I know it is a fear of his
as well and of my whole family.
12. This would not be so difficult if I knew
that Babar had been tried and found guilty in a court of law in
this country. What is most painful for me is the fact that he
has never been given the opportunity to defend himself against
the allegations being made and has been imprisoned without trial
for all this time. I have always been an admirer of the British
justice system and to this day, despite Babar's experiences, I
still challenge anyone to find a more just and fairer system anywhere
in the world. I cannot understand why Babar cannot be tried for
those suspected offences in this country, where I believe he will
have a fair trial. He is a British citizen who has lived and worked
in the UK his entire life. His family and friends and colleagues
are all in the UK. I simply do not understand why then he needs
to be sent to the US, thousands of miles from everyone to face
trial.
13. I am also shocked by such a system where
the US does not even have to show sufficient evidence of Babar's
guilt before he can be extradited. This is simply unfair and unreasonable.
They should at least be required to show some evidence before
demanding that this country hand over one of its citizens.
14. I appeal to the Home Affairs Select Committee
to take my family's circumstances into account as part of their
discussions. I am an elderly man who may not have much time left
to live. My family has been devastated by Babar's arrest and imprisonment.
Sending him to the US would more than likely mean I would never
see him again. Babar should be tried in the UK and if found guilty
in a court of law, sentenced accordingly. In any case, his extradition
should be put on hold until the independent panel appointed by
the government completes its review of the extradition laws. This
is only logical and fair.
15. I thank the Committee for taking the time
to read this statement.
January 2011
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