Pak Army makes travel arrangements for family of dying Pakistani in UK

LONDON/BIRMINGHAM: Terminally-ill Pakistan heart patient Nasar Ullah Khan, admitted currently at the Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital, has thanked Pakistan Army for making all travel arrangements for his family.

Nasar Ullah Khan told in an exclusive conversation that in response to his request for help, Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa “directed for travel arrangements for my wife and two kids”.

He said, “All travel arrangements were made by the Army. The COAS’s office got in touch with my family in the morning when they were on their way to the British High Commission to collect visas for the United Kingdom. We are thankful to our COAS for the kindness and interest he has shown. My family received visa at 9 am, tickets at 9:39 AM and at 11:05 am they were in the plane.”

Khan said that the PIA Chairman was also helpful in securing reservations at the last minute once Army staff approached PIA for immediate travel requirement.

Nasar Ullah Khan said that he was thankful to British High Commissioner Thomas Drew for personally approving visas of his family. “Thomas Drew was extremely helpful and responded to my appeal on passionate grounds. Meeting my family after nine years is like a dream come true for me. The Director General of Inter Services Public Relations (DGISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor was helpful and offered support in my case. I really had no hope until the last weekend that I would be able to meet my family ever but miracles happen. As soon as Geo News and The News highlighted my story, the reaction was immediate and there was outpouring of support.

Nasar Ullah Khan’s wife Sania Butt and sons Muhammad Abdullah and Muhammad Saifullah arrived Tuesday evening at Birmingham airport from Islamabad on a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight. They were re-united with Khan at the hospital immediately after landing in Birmingham. They have been issued travel visa for three months.

The British High Commissioner and the DG ISPR offered help to Khan after this correspondent revealed that he had only a few days to live and wanted to meet his family. After Nasar Ullah Khan sent out a public message for help to the DG ISPR, the spokesman of Pakistan Armed Forces assured of full support. He said, “Our prayers are with Nasar Ullah Khan and his family. We will get any support or facilitation from Pakistan Army as Pakistani citizens.”