LONDON - The Association of Pakistani Lawyers (APL) has expressed its deep concern over the tougher rules for the students coming to Britain for studies.
According to the new rules announced by British Home Secretary Alan Johnson, the students coming to the UK could not work more than 10 hours per week during their academic terms, they need to obtain General Certificate of Secondary Education in English, could not bring their spouses if studying under 6-month course and their spouses will not be allowed to work.
Barrister Amjad Malik, Chairman Association of Pakistani Lawyers while talking to TheNation here on Friday, termed the new changes in immigration law unjust and discriminatory which would affect thousands of Pakistani students.
He said these rules could be challenged under Article 14 of the European Convention 1950 as they discriminate students on the basis of their nationalities from non-English speaking countries like Pakistan, China and India.
He said there should be relaxation in the rules of work but suggested tighter regulations to curb institutions which facilitate bogus admissions.
Currently, the UKBA has no system at all.
It has closed thousands of colleges which should not have been allowed to cater to the international students in the first place.
The UKBA allowed them to function and sponsor thousands of overseas students and later closed these institutions and did not offer any policy for those students who fell victims of these institutes.
The Association of Pakistani Lawyers Chairman suggested tighter regulations for such educational institutes.
Changing policies and rules every 15 minutes is not a solution and ruling Labour government should avoid taking big decisions at the eleventh hour, he said.
Malik said it is unjust that the UKBA first allows a student to bring his/her family and then stops his/her family from doing work in the country.