Pakistani family in Belgium faces deportation over cricket bat, gun mix-up

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FO denies youth’s father sacked from Brussels mission over incident; says his term there had ended

A Pakistani family has lost their right to stay in Belgium after their son was identified as a ‘terrorist’ for carrying his cricket bat on public transport, The Telegraph reported on Tuesday.

Assim Abassi, 22, was carrying his covered bat while travelling in public transport to a cricket practice session when his photo was taken by the authorities. The police later circulated the photo, generating a terror scare against the backdrop of an attack on the Jewish museum in Brussels earlier this year.

Abbasi was showcased as a terrorist armed with a weapon in newspapers with headlines warning of an “anti-Semitic killer” on the loose in Brussels. He contacted the law enforcers to clarify that he was only carrying his bat and not an assault rifle.

“I wrapped my bat in my sweatshirt because it was raining and if it is wet I can’t play the ball properly,” he said.

In a more surprising move, Pakistan’s embassy in Brussels sacked Assim’s father after claiming that he had damaged Pakistan’s reputation. Assim’s father was reportedly a career diplomat and was working for the embassy.

The family of seven subsequently lost their right to stay in the European country following the dissociation from the embassy.

“We got a call from the embassy saying give us your passports,” Assim Abbasi was quoted as saying in the report.

“We’ve lost the privilege of living in Belgium. I’ve lost my education. I’ve lost everything.”

FO denies diplomat’s sacking:

In Islamabad, the Pakistani Foreign Office denied that Assim’s father Tufail Abbasi had been sacked, saying the diplomat had completed his term in Belgium.

“Tuffail Abbasi has completed his term as a diplomat abroad and now he has to return home to continue his responsibilities,” said FO spokesperson Tasnim Aslam, adding that the Pakistani embassy in Brussels was providing legal assistance to Assim Abbasi.

 

4 COMMENTS

  1. Zionist usa's CIA agent Raymond Davis killed 2 Pakistanis in a day light in the Lahore capital of Punjab the Nawaz Bandit brothers let him go free and run away from the Pakistani justice, the Pakistani young cricketer was kicked out with all of his family from the govt job because in Belgium he must not travel with his bat! Bandit Nawaz we are going to beat to death you! run away before 30Nov, if you are captured your are going to eaten uncooked! Go Nawaz Go, Run Away Nawaz!

    • What a bone head comment,I agree that Nawaz Sharif and his government aren't making any friends and I agree with GO NAWAZ GO,But lets get the facts before you start involving and blaming the whole world and point fingers.

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