Embassy STOPPED a Social Activist to enter Pakistan

NewsBureau Nepal

Janakpurdham- 4rth April - 2018, Thursday

From last few weeks Social Activist , Saroj Ray and Jay Narayan Yadav were trying our best to save Umesh Yadav life, who is in jail of Saudi Arabia since last 12 years. After studying and analysing the case very closely, They found that Many Issues and Social Activist Mr. Saroj Ray Says :

"THERE IS ONLY ONE OPTION LEFT TO SAVE UMESH LIFE. THAT IS, PARDON LETTER PROVIDED BY VICTIM'S FAMILY. WITH REFERENCE TO PARDON LETTER, LIFE OF MR. YADAV WILL BE SAVED AND WILL ABLE TO LIVE HIS LIFE FREE.”

CASE OF UMESH: Mr. Umesh Yadav, inhabitant of Kamala Municipality-3, Dhanusha, Nepal has been sentenced to death penalty by the Saudi Arabia Court in the accuse of murder of the Pakistani national Mohammad Wazir.

The incident took place in the year 2006 A.D. and he is in jail since then, 12 years. After the incident, there was an agreement between family members of victim and Umesh Yadav to pardon Mr. Yadav after providing blood money.

The Pakistan authority had already informed and updated the Saudi authority about the agreement, based on that death penalty of Yadav had been changed into imprisonment at that time. Furthermore, it was agreed that Mr. Yadav will be free from prison after submission of blood money to the victim family.

In the mean while, we came to know, that wife of the Late Mohammad Wazir got second marriage. There was dispute between the family members of Late Wazir and his wife regarding Blood Money. His wife and father both claim the blood money, which lead the problem and the final decision of Blood Money is not concluded till dated. Saudi Government is going to give final decision on the case of Mr. Yadav in near future in April 2018.

In addition, Mr. Yadav family condition is similar to the victim family. Mr. yadav economic condition is very poor and have two kids and its difficult for his wife to manage economic needs to run the family. The life of Wazir cannot be returned back and impossible to fill his gap and importance for his family but will help Mr. Yadav to live his life free and support his family and two small kids.

For the same, we went to Foreign Affairs of Nepal to take initiation. High official of the department made oral commitment but never provided any documents related for the case. We found lack of seriousness for the case among institution and high officials.

Due to lack of seriousness by MOFA on the issues, we decided to visit Pakistan embassy for the same. This decision was hard, but we didn't have any option left. We took time and visited Pakistan Embassy and explained them the case of Mr. Yadav.

We requested them to support for visa for my visit to Pakistan to get pardon letter from the relevant family. Also, I told them that I would like to ask for apology from Nepal with the victim family. They were very positive and promised to help. In addition, they explained that they will provide visa without any much more documents. For the process they asked me to bring letter from Foreign Affairs of Nepal and also wrote letter to Foreign Affairs for the same.

We revisited Foreign Affairs to Nepal and requested them to send letter to Pakistan Embassy. During my visit, they questioned me about the relationship between me (Saroj Ray) and Mr. Yadav.

For Social Activists there is only one relations with any person or family for whom he/she is advocating and that is relation of humanity. But, I was unable to convince them on this principal. Then, I communicated with Umesh's family and Umesh's father, Bhola Yadav, to provide me letter of authority to take initiation on the matter on behalf of them. The letter was provided by them and certified by local government.

With the authorized letter, I had submitted application to Foreign Minister. Secretariat of Foreign Minister forwarded my application to Consular Services of Nepal, Tripureshwor. Unfortunately, the letter provided by consular was too generic and the subject was 'To Whom it may concern'. Inspite of mentioned generic subject, it should be specific and should be addressed to Pakistan Embassy. Furthermore, the queries should not only for providing visa but also the importance of Mr. Yadav case should be mentioned in the same letter.

I handed this letter to visa assistant of Pak Embassy. But from this letter, they were not satisfied. Finally, they said 'We will provide visa but we are not going to ask our Foreign Affairs in Pak for any initiation. You still have time for 2-3 days. Bring an official letter from your government if you want support from Pak government in this case. If you couldn't then come after holidays, we will grant you visa without any support letter.

I filed visa application and submitted my passport to embassy. Officer said me that on next opening day, they will give me visa within 30 mins so it is better to take confirm ticket to Pakistan on same day. Accordingly to his suggestion, I asked my travel agent to confirm my ticket and was done.

I have still 2-3 days, again I take chance and went to both Foreign Affairs and Consular Services but none of them provide the letter which Pak Embassy was asking. I just thought, may be there is some diplomatic concerns, so my government is not providing letter. I also knew that the earlier letter from Consular Services was enough to get visa. But, only getting visa was not important for me.

The government level initiation in Pakistan was much important. All of our officials were also aware with this fact but I was surprise to see why our government is not providing full details of Mr. Yadav case to Pak embassy and is not requesting them for own national life.

When Consular Services handed me recommendation letter for visa, they also communicate to Nepal Embassy in Pak and send them my details. Thereafter, I communicate so many times with official of Nepal Embassy in Pakistan.

I prepared my travel to Pakistan. Requested some limited people for travel cost because Foreign Affairs and Consular Services already denied to facilitate accommodation and food there in Pak. Within a day, all travel cost was managed by Amit Shreevastav, Kanchan Jha and Dr. Bhagwan Yadav.

Also, I informed Umesh's family about my travel to Pakistan. They were very excited and hopeful. On the next opening day of Pak Embassy, I went in very first hour but the things does not happen accordingly. Visa assistant informed me that there is some problems in my visa so I should meet with DGM. After waiting 3-4 hours in hall, they call me for meeting with DGM. The first question from DGM was-

"Just being a social activist why I am so interested in this case, Why Nepal Government is not providing details of Umesh Yadav to them and what benefits I am getting from this issue."

I previously made my mind that I would not discuss on my country internal matters. I will not talk on issues of Madhesh and Madheshi. I will not talk on any issues where pride of my country matters.

I just replied them that being social activist it is my duty to help person who are in need of help and advocate for social issues without any personal interests. I also asked them to consult with Nepal government on issue of Umesh.

During meeting, embassy's DGM asked a lots of questions. When he came to know that I am from Janakpur, near indian border, he informed many Indian used to get citizenship and passport from the Terai region. Further he added, many of them used to work as spy and intelligence. Further he added, I need to wait for 10-12 days to get visa.

All this conversation made me to think about my nationality. Though he didn't point to me but it was matter of dignity, why this question is raised for population living in Terai region. And honestly it made me surprised and hurt. Even I don't know how he raised this question and what was his relevant source for such queries.

Objective and importance of my visit to pakistan is clear like clean water. So, I showed them all the related documents and photographs, which strongly proved my family and my social status in Nepal.

The meeting ends and they asked me to come tomorrow. In the mean time we communicated with Nepal Embassy in Pak and requested them to send one letter to Pak Embassy. On my request, Nepal Embassy in Pak send one letter on my email instead of sending that to Pak Embassy directly, which was not the formal and official process.

On the next morning, I went to Pak Embassy and waiting for four hours I was informed that the high level officer has send my case to their security department and they told me to come after 10-12 days. I understand their intention, so I took my passport back. Before leaving embassy, I thanks them and said that no matter if they didnot allow me to visit Pakistan, I will continue my struggle to save Umesh from my own Country.

Pakistan embassy have full right to provide or reject visa for their country. My question is for our government, why did not they wrote letter on the name of Pakistan Embassy rather making it general related to Mr. Yadav case. Isn't it responsibility of our government and responsible ministry to take initiation for saving life of its national. This is very serious concern and I would like to request concern institution to take it seriously.

I have also contacted some social activists of Pakistan and they are too upsets from the behaviour of Pak Embassy. I know, if I had simply asked for tourist visa to Pakistan, I was issued visa. But, I always use to stand with truth without any trick. Still, social activists of Pakistan has committed me to support. I had sent them email with full details of Umesh issue.

In addition, during this process our team started communicating on social site to collect blood money if required. It was fruitful and we got lots of massage and assurance for help. So, we would like to request our government to take initiation as soon as possible for which i tried to visit Pakistan. Mr. Yadav have very short period of time as important decision it going to be taken on April 08, 2018. If blood money is required, our team will collect it and deposit it to related authority. I am unable to visit Pakistan but still we are with Mr. Yadav to save his life.