THIS is with reference to the editorial `Land of the free` (April 14). I was reminded of a sad incident that occurred in the early 1970s in a Middle Eastern country. A Pakistani had to rush his wife to the hospital for delivery late in the night.
In doing so, he forgot to carry his identity papers, and, for that very reason, the hospital refused to admit his wife.
He made her sit on a bench outside the hospital and drove home to get the necessary documents. He was stopped by the police, and was immediately arrested because he was not carrying the residence permit at the time, and could not explain because of the language barrier that he was in the country legally.
When he was released by the police a week later, the poor man lost his mental balance once he was told that his wife had died while waiting for him.
This is the kind of thing that could well happen in the so-called `land of the free`. It would be advisable for all non-Americans in the US Pakistanis, particularly to make sure they have their identity papers with them all the time when they are outside their homes.
