Paul McBride death: Aamer Anwar anger at treatment in Pakistan

DECEASED advocate Paul McBride would have received more support if he had been a British drug dealer caught in Pakistan, his friend and colleague Aamer Anwar has said.

Mr Anwar has spent almost a week trying to arrange for Mr McBride’s body to be flown home from Pakistan after he was found dead in his hotel room.

He has appealed to First Minister Alex Salmond for assistance, who raised the issue with Foreign Secretary William Hague, but Mr Anwar said he had still not received any help from the British High Commission.

“If you were a British national caught drug dealing abroad you would be more likely to benefit from seeing a consulate official than if a loved one had died,” he said.

“On their website they say they aim to talk to a detained person within 24 hours of being told of their arrest.”

A post mortem showed no suspicious circumstances or signs of injury.

Mr McBride was due to receive the Last Rites today in Islamabad, and it is hoped his body will arrive back in Glasgow, with Mr Anwar, tomorrow.

The 47-year-old QC was discovered dead on Sunday morning after complaining of feeling unwell the previous evening.