NatGeo's 'Afghan woman' Sharbat Gula to be deported on Monday

Famed 'Afghan Woman' Sharbat Gula was sentenced to 15 days imprisonment with a fine of Rs110,000 by a special anti-corruption and immigration court on Friday.

Advocate Mohsin Dawar told The Express Tribune Gula has already served 11 days in prison and will be freed on Monday. The 46-year-old was arrested last month for fraudulently attaining a Pakistani ID card, allegations she has strongly denied.



A special court on Friday ordered Sharbat Gula, NatGeo’s famed green-eyed ‘Afghan girl’ to leave Pakistan by Monday, November 7. According to Dawar, Gula was being deported under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act 1946.

Following the court's verdict, Afghan ambassador Omar Zakhilwal said, "With utmost delight, I announce that Sharbat Gula is now free from the legal troubles she endured over the past couple of weeks. She soon will also be free from an uncertain life of a refugee as she will be on her way back to her own country as soon as next Monday where she still is a beloved image and a national icon."

Last week, a local court denied bail to Gula for illegally living in the country. Special Court for Anti-Corruption and Immigration Judge Farah Jamshed denied her bail, saying the defence counsel focused on human rights and did not contain any legal arguments, especially in light of the applicability of Section 14 of the Foreigners Act 1946.

“During her illegal stay in Pakistan, she twice misused her position by obtaining a Computerised National Identity Card,” the judge said.