Pakistani woman freed from Indian jail returns home

Sameera Rehman, who spent four years in a prison in Bangalore, back in country along with her minor daughter

LAHORE:

Sameera Abdul Rehman, a Pakistani woman who had spent four years in a prison in Bangalore, India, has returned to her home country along with her four-year-old daughter Sana Fatima. The mother and daughter were handed over to Pakistani authorities at Wagah border at 3.30pm on Saturday.

Officials from the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi accompanied them to the border.
PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui said the authorities concerned would take two to three days to take necessary action on the rules and decide on Sameera’s future. “After that, Sameera will be free to travel anywhere she wants,” he added.

The senator said he was grateful to the Almighty that the “oppressed” daughters of the country had stated returning home. In response to a question about the future of Sameera, Siddiqui replied that he was unaware of the details.

"As far as I know, no relative of Sameera was present at the Wagah Gate to receive her. She was received by Rangers and currently, they are looking after her.” Siddiqui added that it will be known which path Sameera chooses for herself only after contacting her relatives.

The senator said he had even spoken with former premier Nawaz Sharif about Sameera’s case.
To which Nawaz told Siddiqui to keep in touch with Sameera and tell him about whatever help she needed.

Siddiqui demanded the interior ministry’s relevant officials must be held accountable for not taking the matter seriously even after being contacted in 2018 and not issuing a certificate of Pakistani citizenship to Sameera.

Also read: Pakistani prisoners released by India return via Wagah border

“The certificate [of Pakistani citizenship] was issued on the same day when I raised the issue in the Senate on February 17. Why did it take four years to complete something that would have taken a just a few hours? Someone will have to answerable for that.” Sameera had married an Indian national Mohammad Shihab of Palakkad, Kerala, whom she had met in Qatar, without her parents’ consent.

Shihab took her to India without a visa in September 2016 via Nepal border. She was arrested in May 2017 and was subsequently sentenced to three years in prison. Two months later, she gave birth to a baby girl. Her husband was also arrested but released a few months later. In 2018, the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi was given access to Sameera.

After meeting with her, the High Commission wrote to the Pakistani interior ministry to confirm her Pakistani citizenship but received no reply. Sameera was released after serving a four-year jail term and paying a fine of Rs1 million after taking donations, but was placed in a detention centre.

Separately, a 77-year-old Indian citizen, Sikka Khan alias Habib, who had separated from his family at the time of Partition, arrived in Pakistan via Wagah Border on Saturday. He was warmly welcomed by his elder brother Muhammad Siddique and other family members. In 1947, he had stayed behind in India with his mother while his father, elder brother and other members of the family had come to Pakistan.

Sikka Khan now resides in the Indian city of Bathinda. He had met his elder brother, Muhammad Siddique, and other members of his family at Kartarpur Sahib a few weeks ago. The Pakistan High Commission issued him a visa on January 28, allowing him to reunite with his family.