JOANNA LUMLEY - LUMLEY JOINS CAMPAIGN TO KEEP PUN IN THE UK

LUMLEY JOINS CAMPAIGN TO KEEP PUN IN THE UK

Veteran British actress JOANNA LUMLEY has voiced her support for the campaign to allow former World War II hero TUL BAHADAR PUN to live in the U.K. - because the brave soldier once saved her father's life. Pun, who served for Britain in the 3rd Ghurka regiment in India, has been banned from the U.K. despite receiving the Army's highest honour - the Victoria Cross. The Absolutely Fabulous star, 61, yesterday (30May07) told how Ghurka Pun had fought beside her father, Captain James, in India in 1944 - and helped to rescue him from the Japanese militia. She says, "I've known the name Bahadar Pun since I was four. He was an absolute hero in my house. Father was a chindit (soldier) alongside him in Burma. "I don't know exactly what happened on that battlefield in 1944 because war was so grim back then that few chindits ever spoke about what happened to them. But what I do know is that it was his bravery that saved so many lives, including my dad's. "We owe this man a huge debt. It's disgraceful he could be treated so badly by our government." The British Foreign Office rejected the 84-year-old's application for citizenship because he "failed to demonstrate strong ties" with the country. Pun's lawyers have until August (07) to appeal the government's decision.