My father, Mohammed Bux Baloch, was the founder and owner of Balochi of London, a small chain of souvenir shops in the West End. Although the stores were commercially successful, they were perhaps more important as a meeting place for countless numbers of newly arrived Pakistani immigrants; somewhere they could get their bearings, seek help and find friendship.
Over the years Mohammed never stinted on the informal assistance he gave to such visitors, helping them to settle academically, professionally and socially in the city. The shops were also a place where exiled Pakistani politicians and democracy activists could meet to discuss their strategies, often with the accompanying comfort of food and tea.
