Family will plead their case in High Court

Jan 31 2009 by Peter Leathley, The Journal

A FAMILY facing deportation from South Tyneside have been given a date to plead their case at the High Court.

Octavius Dean, his wife, Sharma Fardous, and their children, Oliver, 15, and daughter Raima, 10, will now be given an oral hearing at London’s High Court on March 5.

The family fled their native Pakistan 13 months ago where they were being persecuted for their Roman Catholic faith.

They set up home in Farne Avenue, in South Shields, where they have settled into the community. Hundreds of people have signed a petition and joined a web campaign to support their case.

The family are currently being held at Yarl’s Wood deportation centre in Bedfordshire, pending the hearing on their asylum application.

South Shields MP David Miliband has asked Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to review the case personally, although the original decision to deport them still stands.

The family’s solicitor Akeel Miyan said last night: “We are hoping that the family will be able to return to their home in South Shields while they wait for the oral hearing, but there is nothing definite. They may even be flown back to Pakistan in the meantime.”