After years in Pak, freedom at last

HOPE TURNS REAL FOR SRILANKAN MOTHER

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A 65-year-old Sri Lankan woman, who couldn't leave Pakistan for 18 years because of a heavy fine imposed on her by authorities for overstaying her visa, will finally reunite with her children in Colombo.

Rashina (who only uses her first name) told the media on Friday that she remained in Karachi as an illegal alien for 18 years because she didn't have money to pay her Pakistani Rs 2.2 millon fine.

“I come from a poor family in Colombo and not even my relatives were in a position to help me pay the fine and get a ticket back home,” she said.

Faisal Edhi, chairperson of the Abdul Sattar Edhi Foundation, said on Saturday that the plight of the Sri Lankan woman moved him and the Edhi Trust with the help of another charitable organisation, Saylani, and human rights lawyer, Zia Awan, fought her case to get her back to Colombo.