A Pakistani doctor has been told he must leave the country by the end of next week despite nearly 30,000 people signing a petition against his deportation.
Dr Syed Kazmi, who works at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, has been challenging the threatened deportation in the courts.
He been given wide support from colleagues in the medical profession, one of whom stressed it is ‘bonkers’ that a well-respected NHS doctor is being kicked out of the UK in the midst of a health service crisis.
The 38-year-old had his visa renewal rejected last month over an HMRC tax issue related to a failed business venture in 2011.
Dr Syed Kazmi (pictured), who works at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, has been challenging the threatened deportation in the courts
The issue has since been settled in full and resulted in no criminal enforcement action.
Dr Kazmi, who lives with his family in the Lozells area of the city, said: ‘I have loved working in the NHS and it was a pleasure of my life to serve in the most tolerant and civilised society in the world.
‘From a dying person to a newborn child, I have served all in my career and learned a lot.’
‘This whole case of immigration broke me to thousands of pieces every day since the decision which I have read more than 1,000 times.
‘I wish to stay and continue to serve in acute medicine which is the health speciality least recruited.’
Dr Kazmi said the standard wording in the letters from the Home Office was ‘insulting’, adding: ‘I am innocent and honest because I did not do anything wrong intentionally.’
Dr Kazmi, who lives with his family in the Lozells area of the city, said: ‘I have loved working in the NHS and it was a pleasure of my life to serve in the most tolerant and civilised society in the world’. Pictured: Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham
Speaking about the tax issue, he said it was an oversight, adding: ‘I have no debt to pay and no government institution has taken any proceedings against me.
His colleague, Dr David Nicholl, said: ‘I’m desperately upset by this. Thirty thousand people have signed the petition, doctors have written letters in support of Syed and yet this is still going ahead at a time when we are in the middle of a crisis in the health service.
‘It’s bonkers.’
Perry Barr MP Khalid Mahmood, who has raised the issue with Home Secretary Amber Rudd, said: ‘I have written in support of Dr Kazmi to the Home Secretary but have not had a response yet.
‘I will continue to offer my support him in his battle.’
The Home Office confirmed it had refused Dr Syed’s visa application, upheld the decision at an administrative review, and issued the notice to Dr Kazmi on January 11.