| Osama Obade Sattar was today booked on a flight to Glasgow after Dundee West MP Jim McGovern’s intervention resulted in a passport being sent by diplomatic bag to Islamabad.
Osama’s father Ali Sattar said, “I’m just off the phone and he’s very happy. He is missing his school, his brothers and his mum and dad. We miss him terribly and we’re desperate to get him back. We are delighted and looking forward to seeing him.”
Government red tape has already left Osama thousands of miles away for almost a fortnight with a family he barely knows.
Despite Osama having been born and raised in Dundee, and having two parents who are British citizens, he had to be left behind with relatives after Pakistani officials pointed out he could not leave the country on his mother’s passport. Osama, a pupil of Ancrum Road Primary, flew to Pakistan on his mother’s Pakistani passport after his own failed to arrive from the passport office.
However, in Pakistan, when the family were due to leave, Mrs Sattar was informed her son would be unable to return to the UK without his own documentation.
Due to other commitments in Dundee, Mrs Sattar had no alternative than to return to the UK with Osama’s two younger brothers and leave him there with relatives.
Mr Sattar (46), who has lived in Dundee since 1971, said his son was currently staying with his brother-in-law in the city of Multan.
A British passport is being taken by diplomatic bag to the British High Commissioner’s office in Islamabad, and Osama and one of his uncles will go there to collect it. It could take up to seven days to get there, but one of Osama’s uncles is visiting the UK a week today.
Dundee West MP Jim McGovern had been moving “heaven and earth” to see if Osama could get on the same flight, but despite Mr Sattar’s attempts the flight was fully booked.
Now Osama will fly home a week later, on May 31.
“I’m trying to get a friend or family member to accompany him to Glasgow, but if that’s not possible, he will travel on his own,” said Mr Sattar.
“We’re just happy that he’ll be coming home.
“We can’t find the words to thank Mr McGovern. He’s done everything for us.”
Speaking from West- minster, Mr McGovern said, “It’s unacceptable a nine-year-old boy has been left in what for him is a strange country.
“I’m very grateful for the compliments I’ve been given by the family.
“Ever since they came to my surgery I’ve been working day and night to bring Osama home.” |
