Pakistani prisoners are given a break

A campaign has been launched to free Pakistani prisoners who have served their jail terms, but cannot afford the airfare back home.

DUBAI // Pakistani prisoners who have completed their jail terms but have no money are being aided by a Ramadan campaign.

The Pakistan Association Dubai's initiative aims to help those who have completed their sentences but cannot afford the airfare home. It also assists those who are still in prison because of fines they cannot afford to pay.

Earlier this month, the association helped 15 prisoners return to their homeland by paying for their airfare. They returned home on August 4.

Organisers are hoping to help another 20 in time for Eid, at the end of the holy month.

"We have two elements to the Ramadan campaign, and that is to raise funds to help needy people, and the second is supporting needy people," said Riaz Farooq Sahi, a former president of the association but now a member of its executive board.

"In this case, needy people refers to Pakistani prisoners who have served their time in jail but cannot afford the airplane tickets to go back home," he said.

"What we are planning to do is launch an appeal among the Pakistani community to help donations so that we can help these people," Mr Sahi said. "We can pay fines for people from Dh1,000 to Dh10,000, but need help for some of the bigger ones. There are about 20 prisoners in jails who owe between Dh160,000 to Dh2 million in fines."

Most - if not all - of the prisoners who owe fines are in jail for being involved in an accident that led to the deaths of other people, and who now cannot afford the compensation to the victim's families, Mr Sahi said.

"The prisoner who owes Dh2m has been in jail for six years," Mr Sahi said. "He was a driver and unfortunately was involved in an accident that resulted in six people dying. He is from a very poor background and cannot afford this fine. Some of the others are also there for writing cheques that bounced."

The aid initiative is part of a wider welfare programme the association runs to support underprivileged families. The programme pays medical, school and utility costs.

"We are really urging the public to help support us because these men have no alternative as they cannot afford tickets back home or their fines," Mr Sahi added.

Rizwan Fancy, the association's community welfare officer, said the campaign had been in the planning phase for a year.

"During last Ramadan, we were raising money for the victims of the flooding in Pakistan," he said. "This is not about helping people who have committed crimes get out of prison. Most of the people we are helping are people who have had post-dated cheques bounce, and have been in prison for short terms, usually 15 days to a month.

"In most cases, they have served their sentence but cannot leave because they can't afford the plane ticket back to Pakistan."

He said talks were under way with Dubai's Community Development Authority to get permission for an official appeal.

"We really want to get this up and running during Ramadan, as it's the best time to do these kinds of charity events," Mr Fancy said.

Ashfaq Khan, a Pakistani businessman, supported the campaign. "Many of these prisoners have served their time and this campaign will help them be with their families," he said. "It's definitely something I would look into supporting."

He urged members of the Pakistani community to step forward to help.

Those who are interested in making donations should contact the Pakistan Association Dubai at 04 3373632.