Can anyone tell where Omer is?

Family of missing Pakistani appeals to PM, authorities in UAE for solution to his mysterious disappearance

Islamabad

There comes a time when words are not enough to describe a victim’s agony no matter how hard we try. Nadia Omer’s is one such story.

The 26-year-old fragile girl was married to Omer, who worked in a firm owned by a Pakistani in the United Arab Emirates. She moved to UAE in January 2014 on a three-year residential visa.  Joining her husband, along with her nine-month-old daughter, in the UAE was the happiest moment of her life. She was unaware of what lay ahead.

On March 2, 2014, Omer mysteriously disappeared while on his way to office after en-cashing an amount of AED 1.5 million from a bank on behalf of his company. Since then, Nadia and her family have been running from pillar to post but no one seems to have a clear answer. Instead of helping her, they suspected her husband ran off with the money.

Though Nadia wanted to share everything, she looked too hurt to describe what she has had to go through during the past three years. She was unable to control her tears throughout the conversation and it was suggested by the scribe to write her story instead of talking about it.

“My only question is; can anyone tell me where my husband is? I sometimes pray to Allah that the same happens to all those who can help but are ignoring our repeated requests. Maybe only then they will realize the pain that we live through every day and night,” she said, her voice choking with grief and tears rolling down her eyes.

Her four-year-old daughter Hareem Omer Mateen innocently tried to divert her attention throughout the conversation. “When would we go home mother,” she asked each time her mom wept. Just recently, Hareem has topped in her class with 100 per cent marks.

“My husband was disturbed with the unprofessional approach of his employers. He was paid much less than what was promised to him under the contract. He protested and even threatened to resign. But otherwise, things were moving smoothly,” Nadia recalled.

She said that Omer was a fair man and had a high self respect. “He never accepted any help from the family even during the hard times. He shifted us to UAE only three months before this incident, which showed his intention to get settled there.”

According to an appeal submitted by the father of Omer Mateen, Raja Qurban Hussain, former Deputy Commissioner Income Tax, to the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Omar had en-cashed an amount of AED 1.5 million from a bank on behalf of his company Avid Petroleum on March 2, 2014 and since then he has never been found anywhere.

He was taken to bank by driver, Aamir Khan, in company's hired car. It is learnt that cheques were en-cashed but Omar did not reach his office or residence. The car was found burnt and the driver was arrested by the police. Driver was released but later on he was re-arrested while sending money through Hundi to Pakistan. Police accepted his new statement that he shared money with Omar but showed ignorance about the latter’s whereabouts. Police accepted the new statement accordingly and courts sentenced him 3 years term jail and to Omar as well (in absentia). On appeal the sentence was reduced to 9 months with deportation. Driver came back to Pakistan on December 21, 2014.

On the fateful day of March 2, Nadia was in the market when she was contacted by neighbours that a company person is at their residence, a small room in a villa, telling the story of Omar’s disappearance and asking for Omar’s passport. She returned in haste with no clue about what was going on.

Meanwhile, Omer’s friends gathered for help but before they could file a report of his disappearance, the owners of the company registered complaint against the driver and Omar. Till today, Omar is wanted and absconder in the papers.

“The situation which followed March 2, 2014 is hard to describe. I was constantly humiliated and threatened by police, law enforcement departments and even some of my husband’s friends. Everyone was under the impression that I know where my husband was. No one gave me a clear answer. They said that the authorities know the whereabouts of my husband and if he did not surrender, he will languish in UAE jail for life. The law enforcers constantly threatened us instead of listening to our appeals to find him. I was not allowed to come back to Pakistan. My husband’s accounts were sealed. I was so frightened, penniless, shattered and helpless and I am still in the same state of mind.”

Same is the situation of the ailing and aging father and mother of Omer. “We are tired and devastated but we cannot stop trying. Both of us are no more mentally stable. We don’t talk to each other for days as we have nothing to talk about,” said the father Raja Qurban Hussain.

Raja Qurban Hussain has written letter to the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif requesting him to play his role in finding the facts behind mysterious disappearance or killing of his youngest son. “I hope being father yourself, you can very well understand my situation,” he mentioned in the letter.

The letter states that information based on personal efforts of some resourceful people suggest that after snatching money from Omer, he was murdered by the criminals who targeted him through well thought out plan. “If my son has been killed, my only humble request is to kindly help to identify him as his DNA matching process should have definitely been completed by now. Our DNA samples were handed over to UAE authorities in the first week of February. If this is the case, kindly help us to bring back his body remains to Pakistan. After that I may stop pursuing you,” states the letter.

The letter asked for the answers of many question such as “why the family has not been provided with clear information? Is the state of UAE not responsible for safety and recovery of my son as he was a legal immigrant? Who could be the possible kidnapper or killer? Should he not be the driver? Why the driver has been making obnoxious and threatening calls to them after his deportation to Pakistan in December 2014? Should State of Pakistan not register case against the driver for kidnapping/killing his son who was never a street smart and fell prey to criminals? Why Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) is silent over claim of approximately AED 14,000 available bank balance in Omer’s account made for his son's wife and four-year old daughter when they have no source of income.”

The letter appealed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for justice. “Allah Almighty has blessed you to protect Pakistan and its law abiding citizens; hence, my appeal for justice may be given priority as Omer’s old aged sick mother has almost gone insane. We humbly appeal for solution of mysterious disappearance of our son in our lifetimes,” the letter ends.