Deaf and mute Geeta returns to India from Pakistan: As it happened

The PM also tweeted the following:

I don't think any amount of words are enough to thank the Edhi family for taking care of Geeta. They are apostles of kindness & compassion.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 26, 2015

What the Edhi family has done is too priceless to be measured but I am happy to announce a contribution of Rs. 1 crore to their foundation.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 26, 2015

Expressed my gratitude to PM Nawaz Sharif for his efforts that ensured Geeta returned home.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 26, 2015

Check out the following pic tweeted by PM Modi:

Welcome Geeta. It is truly wonderful to have you back home. Was truly a delight to spend time with you today. pic.twitter.com/DngJF2Tk31

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 26, 2015

PM Modi also thanks Nawaz Sharif for the care extended to Geeta.
 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks to his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif, offers assistance in the wake of earthquake, as per PTI.

When PM Modi met Geeta he said - "Welcome back home".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Geeta, announces a donation of Rs one crore for the Pakistani foundation Edhi which took care of her.
 

The Pakistan High Commission calls off dinner to host Geeta in view of earthquake in Pakistan.

Since four families from as many states have claimed Geeta to be their daughter, I have written to the chief ministers of these states to probe the claim. For the time being, we are sending Geeta to an institution in Indore (Madhya Pradesh), says Swaraj.

No matter if we find Geeta's parents or not, she is the daughter of India and we will take care of her, announces Sushma Swaraj. 

Addressing a press conference, Sushma Swaraj says Geeta has refused to recognise her family after meeting them. The Indian government will still conduct DNA test, adds Swaraj. "We are sending Geeta to an Institution in Indore," announces Swaraj. 

We had decided that even if Geeta's parents are not traced, we will still get her back to India: Sushma Swaraj

Four different families from four different states had claimed that Geeta was their daughter. I wrote to CMs of the four states to probe the claim, says Swaraj.

I am very very grateful to you for taking care of Geeta in Karachi, Sushma Swaraj tells Bilquis Edhi

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will address a press conference shortly.

In all the euphoria over the return of #Geeta let us not forget to thank Bilqees Edhi, the real-life Pakistani Bajrangi Bhaijaan,&her family

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) October 26, 2015

My heart has always been in India. Geeta tells EAM @SushmaSwaraj pic.twitter.com/EmAvqzjulN

— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) October 26, 2015

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj warmly receives Geeta. 

A Minister and a Mother. EAM @SushmaSwaraj welcomes India's daughter Geeta home. pic.twitter.com/3irRWVSxAE

— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) October 26, 2015

Geeta reaches Ministry of External Affairs office.

Former Union minister Shashi Tharoor says he was very pleased that Geeta is back in India. “If the DNA test is conclusive, everyone will be very happy,” adds Tharoor. The Congress leader also says: “We should thank Pakistan’s Bajrangi Bhaijaan who looked after her. It is a heartwarming story of humanity triumphing borders.”

AIIMS team arrives at the Delhi hotel where Geeta is at the moment, reports ANI. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences has deputed two doctors to collect the DNA samples of Geeta to determine her parentage and the results will be known "after 15-20 days". They have already collected the samples of the family which claimed Geeta as its own on October 24 after the Ministry of External Affairs wrote to the hospital.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi may meet Geeta this evening, say reports.

Former IPS officer Kiran Bedi, who was BJP's chief ministerial candidate for Delhi Assembly polls held earlier this year, tweets:

Pray Indian Family, Geeta may belong to,gives her due care & security which she got from EDHI Family in Pak--Humanity knows no boundaries--

— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) October 26, 2015

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj took to Twitter to welcome Geeta.

गीता - भारत की बेटी का भारत में स्वागत. Geeta - Welcome home our daughter.

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) October 26, 2015

Geeta is en route to the Ministry of External Affairs to meet her family.

Pakistan appeals to India to release 459 Pakistani prisoners currently in Indian jails after Geeta arrives in India from Karachi.

Media in-charge at the Pakistan High Commission Manzoor Ali Memon tells media that the commission would hold a reception for Geeta in the evening. Memon, however, says Salman Khan-starer Hindi film 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' had nothing to do with Geeta's homecoming as the process of bringing her back to India was launched much earlier in 2012. "It's a message of love and affection between the two countries and has nothing to do with the movie," he says.

Geeta comes out of the IGI Airport holding a giant bouquet of flowers. Two of her brothers, a sister-in-law, and Indian and Pakistani officials are present at the airport to receive her. The brothers had come to the airport along with their lawyer Mohammad Momin.

Pakistan International Airlines flight PK 272 carrying 23-year-old Geeta from Karachi lands at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi.

A daughter returns home. Geeta arrives in New Delhi accompanied by members of Edhi Foundation pic.twitter.com/v0CIu7RWmc

— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) October 26, 2015

Geeta, donning a red and white salwar kameez and her head covered with a dupatta, will arrive in India shortly.

Also Read: Geeta wants to meet Salman Khan before meeting parents when she returns to India from Pakistan

Geeta, who is en route to India from Pakistan, will be felicitated by Pakistan High Commission at Indira Gandhi International Airport, reports CNN-IBN.

The foundation's Bilquis Edhi and her grandchildren, Saba and Saad Edhi, are accompanying Geeta to New Delhi, reports Pakistani media.

Faisal Edhi of the Edhi foundation told reporters that they would continue to stay in touch with Geeta through social media and even visit her.

Before boarding a Pakistan International Airlines flight to the Indian capital, a beaming Geeta thanked the Pakistani people for hosting and taking care of her throughout the years.

In 2003, Geeta -- then 11 years old -- was spotted by the Pakistan Rangers in Lahore, and handed over to the Edhi Foundation. Bilquis Edhi, who runs the Edhi Foundation, has named her Geeta.
 

Geeta, now in her early 20s, was around 11 years old when she inadvertently crossed the border to Pakistan.

The Indian government will be doing DNA test to establish conclusive proof. If the DNA tests match, Geeta will be handed over to that family. If not, the government has identified suitable institutions in Delhi and Indore where she will be looked after.

Also Read: Deaf-mute Indian woman Geeta's 'father' confident of passing DNA test

Geeta has already identified one family in India as possibly being that of her parents.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup had last week said that the government has also invited five members of Edhi Foundation, a social welfare organisation, who have been looking after her since 2003, and they will be treated as state guests.

Geeta, a deaf-mute Indian woman who has been stranded in Pakistan for over a decade, will be back in India on Monday.