Pakistani prisoner cuts wrist, dies in UK

LONDON: A Pakistani immigrant Khalid Shahzad cut his wrist at the Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre but the centre failed to attend him for 30 minutes, Pakistani inmates at the centre have told The News.
Khalid Shahzad, 52, died on 30th March a few hours after being released from Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre where he was awaiting his deportation to Pakistan. Shahzad was so ill that doctors had declared him unfit for travel and detention. He was released in a frail condition but the authorities didn’t help him reach Manchester via London’s Euston Station and left him on his own. The Home Office has launched an investigation into the circumstances which led to his tragic death on 30th of March in Manchester in suspicious circumstances.
An inmate told The News: “The story has been put out that Khalid Shahzad died of a heart attack but its known at the Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre that Shahzad had cut his wrist. His roommate pressed the emergency bell but no officer attended him for 30 minutes. He bled profusely in 30 minutes. When the officials finally came, they decided to release him immediately and rushed him out of the detention facility. They knew that his condition was critical.”
When contacted by The News to confirm if Khalid Shahzad cut his wrist and if so then why didn’t the centre provide him help, a spokesman refused to answer specific questions but issued the following statement: “We are fully cooperating with the authorities, as well as conducting our own internal investigation, and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage. The health and wellbeing of the residents in our care at Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre is always a top priority. We categorically deny any allegations that anyone at Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre is tortured, either mentally or physically.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We will provide specialist support to individuals being released from detention if recommended by healthcare professionals. An investigation into this case is underway and it would be inappropriate to comment further.”