Pak man blames India for ‘detaining’ his wife

ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI: Pakistan said on Sunday an Indian woman married to a Pakistani man is “stranded” at India’s High Commission in Islamabad, prompting India to assert that its national has “sought help” from the mission which is providing necessary consular assistance.

Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said the Indian woman, identified as Uzma, who “went missing” from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad last week is “stranded” inside the building.

Zakaria’s remarks came following a Pakistani man’s allegations that the Indian High Commission detained his wife when they went there to apply for his visa. Government sources in New Delhi, however, said the Indian woman sought the help of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad on May 5.

The High Commission is providing necessary consular assistance to her and is in touch with the Pakistan Foreign Office on the matter and the girl’s family in India, they said.

Uzma, from New Delhi, and the Pakistani man, Tahir, reportedly met in Malaysia and fell in love after which she travelled to Pakistan on May 1 via the Wagah border. The two contracted nikkah (marriage) on May 3.

Tahir said they visited the High Commission and submitted visa forms and phones to the officials. Uzma then went inside on being called by the officials while he stayed back, her husband said.

When his wife did not return after several hours, Tahir enquired about her from officials, who claimed she was not there.

Tahir said he has filed an FIR in the Secretariat Police Station.