Indian woman’s visa extended for six months

Husband says she will receive her passport and other documents today

LAHORE: The Home Ministry has extended the visa of an Indian woman, Kiran Bala, for the next six months.

Approval for the visa extension of the woman, who after converting to Islam has taken the name Amna, was granted on Monday.

The Pakistani husband of the woman has confirmed the news that his wife's visa has been extended for six months. "I will receive the passport and several other documents on Tuesday (today).

The Home Ministry on the orders of the Lahore High Court (LHC) had summoned the Indian woman and her Pakistani husband in Islamabad. The couple appeared before the Home Ministry on Monday where they had to wait for long due to the unavailability of the passport.

When the authorities asked for the passport from the Indian woman before the visa extension, she said the booklet was with the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB). Her passport was needed for verification of the first visa. The ETPB shared that Amna's passport had been given to passport immigration authorities. However, after several attempts, the visa was verified. After the process, the approval for an extension in the visa for the next six months was granted.

The Indian woman is ecstatic over getting the visa. Talking to The Express Tribune she said: "I am hopeful of getting the Pakistani nationality too." According to the current Pak-India laws, both the countries grant nationality after seven years.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2018.