UAE amnesty seekers, social workers overjoyed with extension

Dubai/Sharjah - Extension would be particularly helpful for amnesty seekers who were facing financial and legal issues.

Diplomatic missions, social workers and amnesty seekers expressed gratitude and great joy over the UAE government's decision to extend the amnesty period to December 31. They praised UAE's benevolence, and called it the perfect 'UAE National Day gift'.  

The extension would be particularly helpful for amnesty seekers who were facing financial and legal issues whilst seeking amnesty. Naseer Vatanappally, a social worker said, "The decision has made amnesty seekers very happy. They are overjoyed and grateful." He added, the facility is great for people who need more time to sort out various financial or legal troubles they might be facing.

For example for Pakistani national mother of two Ruqaiya Ahsan Ali and her children Laila (4) and Barhaan (2), the process has been extremely challenging. Abandoned by her husband, the Pakistani mom-of-two was not able to obtain her son's birth certificate owing to non-payment of hospital bills. Since she could not get the hospital bills cleared, she could not obtain a birth certificate, resulting in her not being able to procure a passport for her son.
 
"However, my husband refused to cooperate with me and provide a NOC to get my sons' birth certificate as the father's original passport is required to issue one," she said. Ruqaiya found amnesty for her son and She added, "I am still running from pillar to post - trying to get my son amnesty. I already got my daughter's and my paper work completed." Now with the 30-day extension, Ruqaiya may finally be able to gain amnesty.

Another amnesty seeker Anoop S said, "I have a few financial cases against be that I've been trying to close since August. An additional month will help me get out debt and get my paper work completed. I haven't seen my family in six years- I want to go home."

Girish Pant, a social worker who volunteers with the Indian Consulate community welfare team said, "The Amnesty extension will be helpful for those who have legal cases. Also, there are several who applied for a new passport from the Indian consulate as they want to renewal the passport to get six months job visa."

He added, "I am working with cases who got the clearance at the end of the month (November) from the court, and the police and they are asking for their passport renewal in a day. However, they were scared that the amnesty is over on 30th, and they came to the Indian Consulate for the 11th open house for the passport renewal.  All these workers will be greatly benefitted."

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai
• Sharjah