A 61-year-old Pakistani man deported from the United States died within 14 hours of reaching Islamabad, prompting questions about his final hours and the medical care he received.
WEBDESK – MEDIABITES
A 61-year-old Pakistani national deported from the United States has died within approximately 14 hours of arriving in Islamabad, raising serious questions about the circumstances surrounding his death and whether he received timely medical attention.
Ayaz Ahmed, who had lived in the United States for nearly three decades, died on July 30 after being deported by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). His family says it still does not know exactly how or under what circumstances he died and is demanding a transparent investigation by authorities in both countries.
According to US media reports, Ahmed moved from Pakistan to the United States in 1997 and lived in a Chicago suburb, where he owned several businesses.
US immigration authorities detained him on June 3 for remaining in the country after his visitor visa had expired.
Ahmed reportedly suffered from Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. He required daily medication, a breathing assistance device and nasal spray to manage his health conditions.
His children had expressed concerns that detention could further deteriorate their father’s health. They then tried to speed up arrangements for his return to Pakistan.
On July 29, Ahmed was deported alongside other detainees aboard a chartered aircraft bound for Pakistan. The journey reportedly lasted approximately 30 hours, with stops in Iceland and Bulgaria.
An eyewitness aboard the aircraft described Ahmed’s condition as extremely poor, claiming that he had lost control of his bladder during the journey and soiled his clothes.
The circumstances surrounding his arrival in Islamabad have raised further questions.
When the aircraft landed on July 30, another eyewitness claimed Ahmed lost consciousness shortly after arriving. According to the witness, instead of being taken immediately for emergency medical treatment, he was transferred to a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) office, where other deportees were questioned.
A post-mortem report cited in media accounts indicates that Ahmed was brought to a hospital in Islamabad approximately 14 hours after the aircraft landed. By that time, he had died.
ICE rejects allegations of negligence
ICE has strongly denied allegations of negligence, maintaining that Ahmed did not display symptoms of a medical emergency during the flight and was provided with all necessary medication.
The US immigration agency also argued that once a deported individual is handed over to their home country’s government, the person is no longer in US custody and ICE’s responsibility for their care ends.
However, the family’s concerns extend beyond the deportation itself. They want to establish what happened during the critical hours between Ahmed’s arrival in Islamabad and his eventual transfer to the hospital.
Family seeks investigation in Pakistan and the United States
Ahmed’s death has raised serious questions about the treatment of medically vulnerable deportees and the responsibilities of authorities during international deportation procedures.
His family is demanding investigations by both American and Pakistani authorities, seeking clear answers about when he became critically ill, why immediate medical assistance was allegedly not provided, and what happened during the final 14 hours of his life.
For Pakistani families with relatives living in the United States, the case also highlights concerns about the health and safety of individuals facing immigration detention and deportation.
The competing accounts from ICE and eyewitnesses make an independent investigation particularly important. Until the circumstances are established, key questions surrounding Ahmed’s final hours remain unanswered.
Editorial note: The eyewitness account and allegations concerning delayed medical treatment are attributed, not presented as independently established facts. The exact cause and circumstances of death remain subject to investigation.
