Pakistani’s wife sought help: India

Pak says woman stranded at Indian high commission in Islamabad

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

Pakistan foreign office 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.

Mr Zakaria’s remarks came following a Pakistani man’s allegations that the Indian High Commission detained his newly-wed Indian wife when they went there to apply for his visa.

The 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.

According to Tahir, they visited the High Commission building and submitted visa forms as well as their 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 alleged that the officials also refused to give their three mobile phones back to him.

Tahir said he has filed a First Information Report in the Secretariat police station.

Mr Zakaria said the Indian High Commission confirmed to police and the media that the woman was present inside the building but would only be let go after the matter was discussed with the foreign office, the Dawn said.