A PAKISTANI family from Nelson who were ordered to leave the country said today they were living in fear as they awaited the outcome of a second asylum bid.
Nigel Karim, his wife Pearl, and children Crystal, 13, and Calvin, 11, were ejected from their house in Barkerhouse Road by armed police officers and threatened with deportation when their plea for asylum was rejected last Wednesday.
They were given just a few minutes to pack their belongings, and taken off to the Yarlswood detention centre, near Luton.
They were released the next day, but just a week later, 52-year-old Nigel admitted they were finding it difficult to adjust back into normal everyday life.
He said: "We're trying to get back to a normal life, but it'll take some time.
"It comes to us time and again. I get flashbacks.
"Sometimes when I'm sitting alone and I've nothing to do I think about what happened and it's scary.
"Every time we hear the doorbell ring we panic, especially in the morning, it's quite disturbing."
The family, who have converted to Christianity, are preparing for a second asylum bid, which includes new evidence about the risks they could face because of their religion if they return to their native Pakistan.
But Nigel revealed he had no idea how the ordeal would affect their young children.
He said: "For them it's a bit easier because they're at school and they're occupying their time there.
"But it's an experience that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
"I don't think they'll ever forget it."
However, he said they had received overwhelming support from friends and members of the community who have vowed to fight any decision to send the family home.
He added: "Everyone is trying to do everything they can for ourselves and for the children.
"We're getting there, and we've got so much support from friends.
"But, for the moment, we're just left dangling."
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