UAE amnesty: Dubai-based Pakistani mum of two hopes to rectify status, start afresh

Dubai - Ruqia alleged that her husband could not travel to the UAE, owing to an immigration ban.

With no help from her husband for child support, a 38-year-old mother of two toddlers in Dubai is looking to avail the ongoing UAE amnesty programme 'Protect Yourself via Rectifying Your Status'.

Pakistani national Ruqia Ahsan Elahi and her children Laila (4) and Barhaan (2) are living in dire circumstances in an old villa in Al Qouz without access to proper food, water and electricity supply. However, the mother is unable to avail the amnesty for her babies and herself due to non-payment of hefty hospital bills that incurred during her son Barhaan's birth.

Ruqia alleged that her husband could not travel to the UAE, owing to an immigration ban. However, she also said that her husband does not provide her or her kids with child support either. "I have been unemployed for two years. I delivered Barhaan at the Iranian Hospital on Al Wasl Road and both my kids were born in C-section. I was not in a position to continue work after my son was born," she said.

In a bid to pay off at least a part of the hospital bills, Ruqia sold her gold jewellery, her car, and used up the Zakat she received during Eid Al Fitr. However, an amount of Dh8,000 continues to be outstanding. Unless she clears the bill and procures a birth certificate for Barhaan, the Pakistan Consulate General will not be able to issue an emergency travel document for the toddler. Her visa expired in April 14, 2016. With no support from her husband, and due to the lack of electricity and water supply in her house, Ruqia is very keen to rectify her status in the UAE.

"I worked and struggled hard to get both my kids vaccinated. I also worked at a part-time job so that I could clear my daughter's hospital bills and issue her a passport," explained Riqua.

"Since the birth of our daughter in December 2014, he has not helped us out financially even once. I went to Pakistan in June 2015 to try and make things amicable between us, but he took to alcohol and he would not work," she exclaimed. She returned to Dubai in 2016, pregnant with her second child. "Barhaan was born on June 26, 2016. I've been struggling to mend these issues for two years. I want to give my children a good life. I can't do that without a job. It is hard to find work in Pakistan," she added.

Today, the mother and two kids have been living with donations from neighbours, nearby shops, and a few NGOs. "Some people help with food and supplies. But I have some savings from selling gold and car that I use for our upkeep," she explained.

A desperate Ruqia reached out to Khaleej Times after she faced harassment from a group of workers who wish to overthrow her from her bedroom in the villa. "The actual owner of the villa is a kind Arab man who understood my situation and he does not charge rent," she said. "However, these men want to stay here and have been harassing for living alone. They cause problems outside the villa and have barged inside my house in an attempt to scare me. I complained to the police as well. I worry about the safety of my children."

Ruqia wishes to avail amnesty, rectify her status. She hopes to return to Dubai, and begin her own venture that focuses on interior design and furniture.

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com 

• Dubai