Indian woman denies consent to marry Tahir

In para-wise response filed with IHC, Uzma reiterates she was forced to sign nikahnama

ISLAMABAD: An Indian woman has rejected claims made by her Pakistani husband as a “muddle” and “bundle of lies, as she told the Islamabad High Court that she never agreed to transform her acquaintanceship with the man into marriage.

Uzma Ahmed, the Indian lady who came to Pakistan and was allegedly forced to marry Buner resident Tahir Ali on gunpoint, on Friday submitted para-wise comments in the IHC over a petition filed by her husband.



Dr Piyush Singh, the First Secretary of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, submitted the reply. Later in the afternoon, Ahmed through her counsel Malik Shahnawaz Noon made a short appearance before the registrar’s office as well to sign some documents.

The counsel said that the registrar office had summoned Ahmed for obtaining her signatures on some documents which had been filed earlier on her behalf. The cases of both the parties are fixed for hearing before the IHC on Monday – May 22.

In her para-wise comments, Ahmed through her counsel reiterated that she had been “terribly beaten … tortured physically and mentally and forced to sign on the nikahnama” by Ali.

She reiterated her allegation that she had been given sleeping pills and Ali who allegedly “sexually assaulted” her after he received her at the Wagah border.

Noon contended that Ali was not a law abiding citizen, and that Ahmed never asked Ali to come over to India for marriage and that she “never agreed to a proposal of the petitioner”.

He alleged that Ahmed was allegedly threatened, harassed and badly humiliated by Ali and “forced to sign on [the] nikahnama.”

Noon added that Ahmed had been provided  shelter and security by the Indian High Commission till she can safely return to India. He also denied that any pressure had been put on the woman by the Indian high commission.

On the other hand, Ali has sought court’s intervention to meet his wife in ‘a free atmosphere’ claiming that Ahmed recorded her statement before a magistrate against him under “duress and pressure” from her brother through officials of the Indian High Commission.



On May 3, Ahmed had told a magistrate that she had been deceived, tortured and forced to sign marriage documents at gunpoint. Ahmed further said that she had taken refuge at the high commission because she felt threatened and wanted to return to her country of birth.

Contrary to her claims, Ali through his counsel Fayaz Ahmed had filed a petition claiming that she is being forcibly kept there.

“The alleged statement given in court along with the complainant allegedly filed in the court is the result of constant pressure and duress developed by the officials of the High Commission of Indian at Pakistan at the behest of a brother of the respondent, namely Waseem,” Ali stated in his petition.

The husband further claimed that his right to meet his wife had been violated.

Earlier, while talking to the media at the IHC, Ali said that his first wife was aware of his second marriage and Ahmed was also aware of his first marriage in advance.

He claimed that he had Whatsapp exchanges where Ahmed suggested that he conceal his first marriage and also exaggerate about his educational qualification when her brother asks about him.

Ali urged the court to declare that he and Ahmed were legally married husband and wife, have all the rights and duties toward each other as such and both cannot be denied access to each other on any pretext.

Ahmed, on the other hand, has urged the court to direct the authorities to issue her a duplicate immigration form so that she could return to India, grant her exemption from police reporting in Islamabad and arrange repatriation with security while travelling from Islamabad to Wagah.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2017.