Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has directed the Indian High Commission in Islamabad to renew the passport of an allegedly abused Indian woman married to a Pakistani man, and facilitate her return, reports said on Wednesday.
They said Mohammadi Begum, who hails from Telangana, was living with her husband in Sialkot. She complained to her parents that she was being harassed and beaten up by her husband and in-laws and that she wanted to come back to India.
I received a Youtube message from Shri Mohammad Akbar that his daughter Mohammadia Begum an, Indian national was married in Pakistan
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) March 20, 2017
The woman’s father Mohammad Akbar appealed to Ms Swaraj who, in turn, asked officials of the Indian High Commission to meet Ms Begum.
On Monday, Ms Swaraj posted on Twitter that the officials met Ms Begum and she had expressed her desire to return to India.
and was being ill-treated by her inlaws Our mission sent a Note Verbale requesting the safety, security and well-being of Mohammadia Begum.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) March 20, 2017
Following this, Telangana’s Majlis Bachao Tehreek spokesperson Amjed Ullah Khan posted the video of a telephone conversation between Ms Begum and her mother, in which she allegedly said she was beaten up and threatened by her husband for informing the Indian mission.
Mr Khan also mentioned that Ms Begum’s husband married her by claiming that he was an Omani national but has been keeping her in ‘captivity’ in Pakistan for the past 15 years.
Our High Commission officials met Mohammadia Begum and she expressed her desire to return to India.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) March 20, 2017
“Mohammadi Begum said that she has faith in Allah and the Indian government, especially in Smt Sushma Swaraj, MEA and the Indian Embassy officials in Pakistan, that they had assured her that as soon as her passport is renewed she will be transferred to Mumbai and then to Hyderabad,” Mr Khan said.
It was not clear if the woman has retained her Indian nationality or become a Pakistani citizen.
I have asked Indian High Commission to renew her Indian passport and facilitate her return to India.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) March 20, 2017
