From ABC News (Australia)
by Nance Haxton
A gay man who has been living in Brisbane for four years will be deported next week after his application for a partnership visa was refused.
This will put him at risk of being jailed in the country of his birth for being openly homosexual.
Ali Choudhry grew up in the United States and has few contacts in Pakistan.
He cannot read or write the local language.
He has been in a relationship with Brisbane neuroscientist Dr Matthew Hynd for the past four years.
Mr Choudhry and Dr Hynd were one of the first gay couples in Queensland to register their civil union on March 12, 2012.
It was a significant day that they celebrated with family and friends.
Nearly two years later, Mr Choudhry’s application for a visa recognising his relationship with Dr Hynd has been refused.
He says he cannot understand why theirs is not considered a legitimate long-term partnership.
“We applied for a partnership visa to try and keep me here, and keep us together,” he said.
“For us, for whatever reason, it took about two years, and then even after all that time, it came back as a no.”
