Sada-e-Watan Sydney ™
sadaewatan@gmail.com
Media Release
Government of Pakistan’s rules on Repatriation of Dead body: Case of Late Paris Rafiq
Under the government
rules, the High Commissions/Embassies or Consulates of Pakistan can repatriate
dead bodies of Pakistanis to Pakistan on actual expenditure basis, if a formal
request to that affect is received from parents/family of the deceased. In
instances where the deceased had insurance cover for repatriation of body or
where employer of the deceased was responsible for such costs, our Diplomatic
Missions would ask insurance company/employer to bear the cost of repatriation.
It is important to note here that our diplomatic Missions have limited resources
and being custodians of tax payers’ money they are duty bound to exercise utmost
economy and prevent avoidable wastage of public funds. Prudent financial
practices hence demand that those funds be utilized when there is no alternative
source of funding available.
In case of Paris Rafiq, the High Commission came to know about his sad demise
through Dr Zarrin Siddiqui who also requested its assistance. She was assured of
the High Commission’s full cooperation and the willingness to bear the cost of
repatriation if need for it arose. The High Commission then contacted Mr Saad
Siddique and Yaser, friends of late Mr Rafiq who were managing the repatriation
of the body, to ascertain as to what help was required. They informed the High
Commission that the repatriation of the body was covered under the deceased’s
health insurance policy.
Late at night, on February 12, the Deputy High Commissioner called Mr Ishtaiq
Ahmed( community volunteer and relative of the deceased) to inquire about the
status of repatriation of the body. When asked about the procedure regarding the
funding of repatriation cost by the insurance, Mr Ahmed totally refuted earlier
information of late Mr Rafiq’s friends about the insurance cover and after
accusing the High Commission of evading the cost of repatriation, he banged the
telephone. The Deputy High Commissioner again checked with the friends of
deceased and they forwarded to her an email from Ms Jacqui Johnstone, Manager
Student Services and Compliance, confirming that insurance would bear the cost
of repatriation.
In order to clear the confusion and arrange the repatriation of the body in an
organized and efficient manner, the High Commission requested the Purslow
Funerals, the company through which it has been repatriating dead bodies of the
victim of boat capsize incidents, to take over the repatriation process with an
understanding that they would first claim the cost of transportation from Mr
Rafiq’s insurance and if the insurance company refuses to bear the cost the High
Commission would bear the expense. Mr Ishtiaq Ahmed, however, refused to let the
High Commission's recommended funeral company takeover and insisted on going
with his selected funeral company.
On February 13, the Deputy High Commissioner called father of late Mr Rafiq to
reassure him that the High Commission will do all it can and in case there is
any issue with the insurance it would pay the repatriation cost. Soon after that
the Deputy High Commissioner received a call from Mohammad Fahad Shafqat, who
was upset over the High Commission’s telephone call to the deceased’s parents.
He after confirming that the cost of repatriation of Mr Rafiq body was being
covered by insurance demanded that the High Commission cover the cost of his
travel to Pakistan, as he is accompanying the body. He insisted that the cost of
transportation of the body is paid to him so that he can use the amount for his
travel and the remaining money would be given to the family.
The High Commission would like to clarify that under the government of Pakistan
financial rules, it can make payment through cross cheque directly to the
funeral firm or any other repatriation agency only for the cost of treatment,
embalming, casketing and transportation of the human remains to Pakistan. No
personal cheques can be issued. Also the High Commission is not allowed to pay
for the travel cost of any one accompanying the body.
The High Commission is ready to arrange repatriation of the human remains of any
Pakistani who dies in Australia. However, if that cost can be covered by
insurance or other sources, it would be only prudent to save the government
funds and let the cost be covered by those agencies.
High Commission for Pakistan,
Canberra, Australia.
Dated: 17/02/2014
