AHMER Rana, or ''Emmie'' to those who know him, is a year 13 pupil currently studying for his A-Levels within our community here at Queen Elizabeth High School.
He hopes to go to Glamorgan University when he leaves school to study accountancy, and his dream would be to play cricket for England.
He is already a valued member of the Drefach cricket team.
These might sound like a typical teenager's dreams and ambitions, but for Ahmer, achieving his dreams will be more problematic and uncertain than for most other young people of his age.
While for most people, Christmas Day 2010 was a happy, celebratory event, it was a very different story in Ahmer's home in Nantycaws.
You see, Christmas Day marked Ahmer's 18th birthday; and also the day that officially meant he could be sent back to Pakistan where he was born and lived for the first years of his life.
To Ahmer, this possibility fills him with dread and trepidation since he has nobody in Pakistan to support him or to take him in.
His parents disappeared shortly after he left the country for Britain. To Ahmer, the return to Pakistan is a journey that would mean the eradication of the hopes and ambitions he currently speaks so passionately about.
To his foster family, John and Lesley, who Ahmer describes as his 'parents', Ahmer's return to Pakistan would mean the loss of a young man who they look at and treat as a son.
To the wider community, it would mean the loss of a polite, intelligent, vibrant young man, who would certainly be a pillar of the community, just as he has been a pillar and an asset within Queen Elizabeth High School.
Ahmer describes this situation as being 'terrifying'.
Every day he fears that it could be his last spent within the place that has been home to him for a number of years, surrounded by the people who he loves and who love him in return.
It is this love and respect for Ahmer Rana that is felt by so many, that has resulted in the launch of a huge campaign to keep him here in Britain. Facebook pages have been set up in support of Ahmer, the national press has reported on his fight for Rights to Remain, and on December 23 last year, a petition of more than three thousand names was taken to London by a group of loyal supporters. We caught up with acting headteacher Allan Carter to find out more.
QE High: Good morning Mr Carter. Could you tell us about the trip to London in support of Emmie?
Allan Carter: We, as a school, have been and continue to fight for the right to keep Ahmer in the country. Ahmer was not granted legal support and so was only represented in his appeal tribunal by myself and his foster mother.
It was initially thanks to Tim Day and the Carmarthen Journal, in particular Bruce Sinclair who covered the story, that the fight to keep Ahmer within his community was given such extensive publicity. Local MP, Jonathan Edwards, raised the profile of the story further when he came up with the idea to take a petition to the Home Office in London.
On December 23, 2010, myself, 12 sixth form colleagues of Ahmer's, Jonathan Edwards, Ahmer's foster father, John Hillard, and a journalist from S4C who was making a documentary about the case, all made the trip to London with Ahmer to deliver the petition.
When we arrived we were met with cameras from several media organisations including the BBC, ITV and even CNN, who wanted a phone interview.
The whole process was over pretty quickly; we were in and out of the office in about 45 seconds.
The petition was handed to the office of Damian Green, the Minister for Immigration.
As Acting Headteacher, I am incredibly proud of the sixth form and all the help they have so avidly provided. We have made a video of the trip to London, and are planning on having a special assembly where the whole of the sixth form can see it as well as being updated on the current progress of Ahmer's plight.
QEH: You've had a lot of support with the case from everyone, but have you received much criticism?
AC: There has in fact been a considerable amount of criticism. The Journal has received e-mails opposing the case, and there have even been some Facebook groups set up in opposition of Ahmer's fight for the Right to Remain.
However, none of these worry me since people are entitled to their own views and opinions, but we are a multi-cultural community and there is no reason why Ahmer shouldn't be allowed to stay in our opinion.
There are many stories in the media of people who have been granted permission to remain in Britain.
Not all these cases appear to have merit, whereas Ahmer plea most certainly does. If he is denied the Right to Remain, the community will be losing out on a fantastic young man who would contribute so much.
Luckily, and rightly, the support for Ahmer is much greater than the criticism, and we have received tremendous help from Carmarthenshire County Council who voted unanimously to give support to Ahmer's case.
QEH: Do you have any news regarding a decision on Ahmer's case?
AC: We are currently awaiting a decision as to whether Ahmer is allowed the Right to Remain.
Thank you Mr. Carter.
The fight to keep Ahmer with us continues. We are all so very thankful to everyone for their support, but it's not over yet. We will keep fighting for Ahmer and hopefully we will win the battle to keep our great friend and colleague where he belongs; here with us in Wales.
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