Indian woman, forced to marry Pakistani, allowed to return home by Islamabad High Court

Islamabad: A Pakistan court on Wednesday ordered that an Indian woman, who was allegedly forced to marry a Pakistani man at gunpoint, be deported to her country.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani was hearing pleas filed by Uzma, a doctor, and Pakistani national Tahir Ali. While Uzma had requested to be repatriated to India, Ali had asked to be allowed to meet his wife.

The HC assured Uzma, who hails from New Delhi, that she was free to return to India at any point and would be escorted to the Wagah Border with police security.

The court also returned her the immigration papers which she had said was taken away by Ali, who had submitted the documents yesterday after being told by the court to do so.

Ali, dejected at the order, told PTI that the high court allowed "his wife" to go back.

"She has been allowed to return and I am unhappy because my point of view was not heard."

Justice Kayani also ordered the police to escort her to to the Wagah Border crossing between India and Pakistan.

The judge asked Uzma if she wanted to meet Ali in his chamber but she refused.

"I had asked to meet her for two minutes but I was not allowed," Ali added.

Some reports said Uzma once collapsed in the court during the hearing and paramedics were called in to treat her.

News agency IANS quoted sources as saying that Uzma will be deported to India on Thursday.

Uzma had petitioned the court on May 12 with the request and had submitted a medical report, showing that her daughter was suffering from thalassemia - an inherited blood disorder characterised by abnormal hemoglobin production - and she urgently needed to return to India.

Uzma and Ali reportedly met in Malaysia and fell in love, after which she travelled to Pakistan on May 01 via the Wagah Border. The two contracted nikkah (marriage) on May 03 in the remote Buner district in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

Later, she came to Islamabad and took refuge in the Indian High Commission, alleging she was forced to marry him at gunpoint.

Ali rejected the allegations and expressed his desire to work out their relationship. "She is still my wife. Neither she has asked for divorce nor I have divorced her."

According to the law in Pakistan, her lawyer can continue to represent her and she can come back to pursue the case. 

(With Agency inputs)