14,000 petition to stop deportation of doctor Colleagues, patients and MP back fight to keep respected QE medic in country
MORE than 14,000 people have so far signed a petition calling for the deportation of a respected Birmingham doctor to be stopped.
Dr Syed Kazmi, who works at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Edgbaston, has been told by the Home Office that his visa will not be renewed next month.
The 38-year-old from Pakistan has been working in the NHS for about nine years, including a previous spell at Walsall Manor Hospital, and supporters describe him as an “amazing” doctor who goes out of his way to help patients.
But an HMRC tax issue linked to a failed business venture in 2011, which he says was settled in full and was not a criminal case, has led to the Home Office blocking the renewal of his visa.
A key problem is that he has no right of appeal from the UK.
Dr Kazmi, who lives in Lozells, said on social media: “I feel like that all my nine years spent in the UK, a fully law abiding, regular tax payer, positively contributing to society and progressing my medical career, were not able to convince Home Office of my credibility and one event which is remedied as much as possible has made the Home Office consider me an untrustworthy person.”
Now he has won the support of colleagues, former patients and wellwishers.
Dr David Nicholl said: “The big thing that must happen is his MP must contact the Home Office urgently to sort this out so that we have a valued doctor working in the NHS next weekend.”
The petition on the Change.org website states: “This man contributes massively to our society and economy. Would a country like Australia rid themselves of such a commodity?
“When the NHS is as stretched as it is, we should do all that we can to keep good and caring doctors like Syed. As an NHS member of staff, we should be aware that any of our colleagues could face the same challenges while we struggle with efficiency savings and safe staffing.”
His colleague Karen Townsend is one of many to back the petition, saying: “An amazing doctor who we all love working alongside. Syed is one of the best.”
His MP, Khalid Mahmood, is raising the case with the Home Office.
Mr Mahmood said: “We are dealing with this issue and understand the severity of it for Dr Syed Kazmi and his family. We are doing our best to get this resolved.”
Neither the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, nor the Home Office, were willing to make a public comment on Dr K a z m i ’s case.