National Geographic's 'Afghan Girl' issued Pakistani identity card

Sharbat Bibi has been residing in the Nasir Bagh camp established for Afghan refugees

Web Desk February 24, 2015

A then and now image of Sharbat BIbi published in National Geographic in 2002

In violation of rules and regulations, officials at National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) issued Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) to Afghan woman Sharbat Bibi – National Geographic’s famous ‘Afghan Girl’ -- and two men said to be her sons, Dawn reported.

Sharbat Bibi became a recognised face world-over when renowned National Geographic photographer Steve McCurry captured her portrait at the Nasir Bagh refugee camp, situated on the edge of Peshawar, in 1984.

An image of Sharbat Bibi holding the cover she was featured in June 1985. PHOTO: STEVE MCCURRY

Sharbat Bibi as pictured on her Nadra form - Nadra photo

Sharbat Bibi as pictured on her Nadra form - Nadra photo

Sharbat Bibi pictured on her Nadra form. PHOTO COURTESY: NADRA

Sources at Nadra’s Hayatabad office told Dawn that high-ups in the authority issued three CNICs on a single day last year to the 46-year-old Sharbat Bibi, wife of Rehmat Gul, and her two sons Rauf Khan and Wali Khan in violation of rules and regulations.

It is unlawful to issue a CNIC card to Afghan nationals without adequate documentation and procedure to acquire Pakistani nationality

Men identified by Nadra as Sharbat Bibi's sons Wali Khan (L) and Rauf Khan (R).

Men identified by Nadra as Sharbat Bibi's sons. PHOTO: DAWN

Sharbat Bibi gained global recognition when her face was featured on National Geographic Magazine’s cover in 1985. She was only 12 years old then and her photo was likened with Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa.

The magazine also made a short documentary about her life and dubbed her the ‘Mona Lisa of Afghan war’. Sharbat remained anonymous for years after her first photo made it to the cover until she was rediscovered by National Geographic in 2002.

After Sharbat's family granted her permission to meet with the man who photographed her 17 years ago, McCurry knew immediately, even after so many years and many unsuccessful attempts, that he had found her again. "Her eyes are as haunting now as they were then," he had said.

Sharbat moved to Peshawar on 1984 along with her two sons and since then, has been residing in the Nasir Bagh camp established for Afghan refugees. According to the Nadra form, Sharbat is said to be a permanent resident of Peshawar's Nothia Qadeem area.

An inquiry was initiated into Nadra for issuing CNICs to foreign nationals without legitimate documentation.

COMMENTS (18)

shakir shamim | 9 years ago | Reply WE SHOULD FOR CONCESSION HER BECAUSE OF HER BEAUTIFUL EYES.

Mac | 9 years ago | Reply The National Geography should give this woman and her family a substantial amount of money and goodies. Her childhood photo has appeared on the front page of this magazine three decades ago and it has sold millions of dollars yet this woman is still poor. You return back to take her another picture and put her into more misery. She needs some money not penniless fame. Kim Kardashian would have been paid millions for a front page picture.

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Kayla | 9 years ago | Reply Most beautiful eyes I've ever seen, too bad these countries are ruined by a dangerous ideology that has set them back from the rest of the word....

Amber Gardner | 9 years ago | Reply Her fingers are clubbed. That is a sign of a disease.

Ashraf | 9 years ago | Reply I sympathise with Ms. Sharbat Gula and all the war-afflicted immigrants and emgaigrants. This very incident shows how the the earth, with all its vastitude, can at times become a place too small for you. It grieves me to know that the legendary Afghan Girl has been given such a space on media but no room on earth. This reminds me of the pictures of skeleton-like looking pale and weak children, men and women whose photographs get so much of attraction of people, but their breathing bodies cannot.

Mavra | 9 years ago | Reply @Maia This is the most ridiculous thing I have heard! Are you seriously against the migration of Afghans to Pakistan? In that logic then noone should leave their country, ever. This line of thought is breeding Nationalism that is ill-founded and dogged.

Maia | 9 years ago | Reply @Rex Minor: "Afghanistan is the country of resilient people and given the passage of time it will rebound in the near future." -- Well, kindly let the Afghans be resilient in their own country, not in Pakistan.

Maia | 9 years ago | Reply Bad move. Cancel her ID card and send her back to Afghanistan. All Afghans must be deported. I don't care if they were born in Pakistan and spent their entire lives here, they are an unacceptable burden on our economy and society and they are a dangerous fifth column. Send them back. Pakistan is for Pakistanis only.

the Skunk | 9 years ago | Reply I wish her and her family well. As long as they obey the laws of Pakistan and have been living peacefully, they should not be humiliated and absorbed as naturalized citizens. As for us, stop voting for 'run down politicians' who live on corruption and medieval laws. Salams

Nikki | 9 years ago | Reply Is this a leading story? ET

Shahid | 9 years ago | Reply As a Pakistani Lahori, I believe that since Afghan's are Muslim, any Afghan refugee who wishes to make Pakistan his or her home should be granted citizenship if they so seek it. Notwithstanding that, any children of Afghan refugees born and brought up in Pakistan are automatically Pakistanis and should be treated, and considered, as such.

syed & syed | 9 years ago | Reply @AA: Those accepted as Pakistanis due to partition and were part of making Pakistan. But the story of Afghans, Burmese etc is a different story.It should be dealt as per law

shah | 9 years ago | Reply Since she has been permanently residing in Pakistan last 30 years , she should be given the CNIC and legal status established. These Afghans are not "going back" as some folks keep hoping. especially when Afghanistan remains a cold dangerous place.

Rex Minor | 9 years ago | Reply The most beautiful classic face of a woman from Afghanistan. Sharbat Bibis face shown in the photo shows the deep green eyes with her face showing the hardships she lived through which her native country was raped and almost destroyed byt the foreign invading armies. Afghanistan is the country of resilient people and given the passage of time it will rebound in the near future. Rex Minor

AA | 9 years ago | Reply Pakistan has law that allows a person residing in Pakistan for minimum three years to apply for domicile from the district of residence and proceed to acquiring citizenship. People who are born in Pakistan are citizen of Pakistan disregard of the status of their parent's citizenship. These laws were promulgated to accommodate immigrants from India during first two decades of Pakistan's Independence. They are still apply to immigrants from other countries.

porus khan janua | 9 years ago | Reply I hope she's safe and sound. I wish her and her family the best of luck. May the future be bright for Afghan people.

Khan Gul | 9 years ago | Reply If Pakistanis want dual nationalities for themselves, they should also allow dual nationalities for Afghans who want to apply for Pakistani ID Cards as well.

Mr. Honest | 9 years ago | Reply All Afghans born in Pakistan and also the ones who have been living in Pakistan for decades now should be integrated into Pakistan and issued CNICs. This will help in reducing crime and will also support the economy. They have been living and will live here by hook or crook anyways, and neither the international donors like UNHCR will allow their repatriation nor our government has the will to repatriate them.

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