Asylum-seeker status preventing 18-year-old from going to university is behind her upset and disappearance, says sister

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

A teenager who disappeared after taking out the rubbish was upset because her family's asylum-seeker status barred her from attending university.

Nida Ul-Naseer, 18, of Newport, South Wales, has not been seen since leaving her home in Linton Street on 28 December.

Her family revealed on Tuesday that their attempt to seek asylum in the UK from Pakistan was turned down a year ago.

It resulted in Nida opting to retake a business studies course she had already passed.

Her sister, Shamyla, 23, told a press conference that she believed Nida's disappearance stemmed from being upset because she could not attend university.

"I think that not being able to go to university is the reason for her leaving," she said, speaking alongside other family members at Newport Central police station.

She said her sister had been upset and angry about the situation before she vanished.

Nida might also have been barefoot when she disappeared three days after Christmas, it has emerged. Police said it was not known if she had taken anything to put on her feet, although if she had planned to leave it was likely.

The teenager suffers from a medical condition and needs medication without which she is likely to become anaemic.

Her sister revealed on Tuesday that Nida had been taking iron supplements and also suffered from heartburn.

The teenager had been unhappy for some time about not being able to attend university. Her sister said she had seen friends who did less well in their exams go on to university. She went to college instead but remained unhappy.

Before she left she had argued with her family about her inability to go to university and was said to be shouting and crying.

Her father, Naseer Tahir, who was also at the press conference, said in broken English that he was happy for his daughter to attend university.

He added that he was sad he was not able to provide her with what she wanted.

The conference heard that Nida did not have a boyfriend and was described by her family as very religious.

The family has been seeking asylum in the UK for five years. Their passports are held by the Home Office.

Shamyla began the interview with a direct appeal to her missing sister, saying: "Nida, please come back home. Nida, please come back home. We are desperately worried about you. Nida, we need you. Nida, please come back home, we cannot live without you."