A Pakistani dentist was back at his family home in Lahore last night after being released from custody in the UAE in what he described as a case of mistaken identity.
Dr Ayyaz Ali Khan, 58, was arrested with six others in RAK on April 5, five days after he had left Pakistan. Two of the men were released the same day, but no word emerged of Dr Khan until yesterday.
He said authorities never explained why he had been arrested, and he had no legal representation.
"I think it was a case of mistaken identity," he said.
Dr Khan is principal of the Islamic International Dental College, which is affiliated to Riphah International University in Pakistan. For three years he was a lecturer at the Ras al Khaimah College of Dental Science,
He did not discuss the details of his incarceration, but said he was kept in a room and was questioned a number of times but never harmed.
After his release on Tuesday, he boarded a plane for Islamabad, where he was met by his family and then made the five-hour drive to Lahore. He was issued an exit visa, meaning he can return to the UAE in three month's time, a relative said.
Hundreds of people including Dr Khan's former students, his relatives, friends and colleagues - celebrated his return home, greeting him with flowers, embraces and chants. Many of them held press conferences and peaceful demonstrations in Pakistan during Dr Khan's arrest, giving his case notable attention.
@Email:asafdar@thenational.ae
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Marital status: Single
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
