Public Eye: Attacks on U.S. wrecked their lives

For 11 years, Mufeed Khan was in search of a bright future in America. But his hopes shattered when he was confined for several months and "forcibly" deported by the U.S. immigration authorities.

"I was running a small business in Los Angeles. But after September 11, the changing attitudes of the authorities ruined my life," the 35-year-old Mufeed says.

Mufeed is among around 130 Pakistanis to arrive this week after deportation from the U.S. Most of them had overstayed beyond the time allowed, and have been deported in accordance with restrictive immigration legislation passed in America in wake of the September 11 crisis.

These Pakistanis arrived in Islamabad on late Thursday by a special flight. They were allowed to go back to their families living in different cities and towns of the country by Pakistani officials. Most of them express resentment at the treatment meted out to them in detention centres in America. Mufeed was detained from his Los Angeles residence in February.

"I was suspected as a terrorist. I was psychologically tortured in the prison. I was questioned as if I were an associate of Osama bin Laden" the 35-year-old Mufeed says.

"I was treated badly because I am a Muslim...Every Muslim is not an extremist or a terrorist…We Muslims have also contributed in the development in America as well," he says. "…after September 11, Muslims also donated blood, collected donations for the victims. We also had tears in our eyes. But were seen as culprits."

Khan was financially supporting his family back in Pakistan as well. The U.S. is regarded by many as a land of prosperity and since the early 1980's, thousands have flocked there to seek better prospects. A number of these Pakistanis stayed back there illegally.

Now with the introduction of strict immigration policies and the changed atmosphere, these Pakistanis have returned embittered.

Jehanzeb Zulfiqar went there when he was just a 17-year-old student. Now, 10 years later, he has been deported.

"I never thought I would be put through such mental torture. I was sent from one state to another in shackles, belly chains and handcuffs. My rights were abused, my dignity violated and self-respect insulted and compromised," Zulfikar says. He says he was detained for almost three months before he was deported.

"Even on our way back to Pakistan, the U.S. commandos accompanied us as we are criminals. Pakistan is cooperating with America in its fight against terrorists and America in return is treating Pakistanis as terrorists. Isn't it injustice," he says.

The deportees stated that the racial divide in the U.S. had become highly visible, and immigrants were being harassed on all counts ranging from immigration rules violations to speeding tickets. They allege the U.S. authorities want to demoralise and discourage Pakistanis from staying in America.

Arshad Mehmood, who lived in Chicago for almost a decade, has now been sent back.

"For them (the American authorities) every Pakistani is now a possible activist of Taliban or friend of Osama. They do not want us to live over there. Before 11th September we were Pakistani Americans and now we have become aliens who want to destroy America," Mehmood says. Mehmood still has his wife and two children in America. Obviously, Mehmood says, his wife and children are going to come to join him in Pakistan soon.

Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States, Maleeha Lodhi, was quoted in one of the leading daily English newspapers as saying "we raised the issue of the latest arrests with the justice department and told them of pur concern about racial profiling and perception in the community of being targeted."

"We were told these investigations are under way without targeting anyone group nationality." Pakistani officials say they are expecting more Pakistani deportees from America.

Observers say that this will add to the growing anti-America sentiments across Pakistan, which was initially found in the more radical elements of society. Such narratives will make the resentment more widespread.

Thousands of youth across the country are studying information technology, with the hopes of finding employment in the IT sector in the U.S. But Babar has just returned after three months in America, disillusioned and dejected.

"I went with great hopes. But they aren't interested in our talent, and don't want us." Like Babar, other such youths are becoming bitter.

Observers believe this fading of U.S.' charm for the educated classes will impact not just economically but alter social outlooks as people seek alternatives.