Mother not allowed to return to Pakistan as her 10-day-old baby boy doesn’t have travel documents. PHOTO: FILE
According to reports in Indian newspapers, Fatima and her husband Mir Muhammad Mahar of Nuhundi village near Ghotki went to Jaisalmer in the Indian state of Rajasthan to visit relatives three months ago along with their five-year-old-son. Fatima was seven-month pregnant at the time of travel and gave birth to a boy on April 14 while she was in India.
The Indian authorities stopped the couple as they were on their way back to Pakistan three days ago. When Fatima and Mir were asked about the identity and documents of the newborn, the couple failed to produce the papers as they were given only a birth certificate at the hospital where the baby was delivered.
However, the Indian authorities did not allow them to cross into Pakistan, leaving the couple stuck in the neighbouring country.
When contacted, an elder of the Mahar tribe, Muhammad Ismail Mahar confirmed the incident to The Express Tribune. “Fatima was seven-month pregnant and, therefore, everybody asked her to postpone her visit till the birth of the child but she didn’t listen. She left for India with her husband and son to see her maternal uncles,” he said.
“We are hopeful that the Pakistani authorities will help the couple,” he added.
Pakistan’s High Commissioner in New Delhi, Abdul Basit, on Sunday said that the High Commission will register the name and other details of the newborn baby as soon as the woman contacts them and verifies her Pakistani origin with documents.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 28th, 2014.
COMMENTS (24)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1714024018-0/ModiLara-(1)1714024018-0-270x192.webp)
Why would Indian officials procedure block a Pakistani new born in India? This nation is insane!
Sad situation for parents, and sad situation for citizens of India and Pakistan. We love to hate each other so much that we are absolutely blind about whom we r venting our poison on. Its a new born kid. Ofcourse proper document is required to establish the citizenship. But being mindful of sentiments for once India and Pakistan should work together to resolve such issues of stranded citizens more promptly. Its ok to hate each other but lets not start being inhuman. Hopefully for the family the issue gets resolved soon.
serves them right for going to india and staying there
Oh well, before I learned that it was the PAKISTANIS who barred the couple entering into Pakistan, I was going to say, DNA test should be conducted to verify the parents of the child and if this was not the case of child trafficking, the couple should be allowed to go to Pakistan. But now when someone in the comment put a link to "the Hindu" newspaper which says it was the Pakistani immigration officials at Munabao, I will say - "hah! stupid pakistani officers! First they charged a 9 month old baby with attempt to murder, and now this." Good going Pakistan!
@Slick: 1. The fact is that Pakistani authorities stopped. 2. This incident has little to do with heart - big or small.it is logical to require papers or else there cold be kidnapping of kids. What proof that child is hers?
@India:
That's factually incorrect. Pakistanis do not, as a principle, automatically qualify for Indian citizenship by being born on Indian soil (as is the case with certain countries, including the USA). However, the new born baby would be entitled to claim Indian nationality only if one of the parents is an Indian citizen at the time of the infant's birth. Also, many Pakistani nationals, who have tried to claim Persons of Indian Origin or Overseas Citizenship India status card, have failed to claim one of these two cards just because their parents migrated to Pakistan at the time of partition. Pakistan is one of the seven or eight countries that require special processing of visa application for India.
Indians are sick. Lots of Indian women do get married with Pakistani men every year. Once these Indian woman gets married, they should forget their Indian affiliation since they are Pakistanis now and conservative Indian Govt won't care about you than.
Maybe the kid can be a bridge between India and Pakistan in the future and also will be eligible to collect benefits from both sides of the border ..
Why do people travel to a country without first understanding the rules and laws in such a situation.
Tribune can't even report a news honestly. Then again, Pakistani paper, kinda expected it..
As soon as the woman contacts them, Whats wrong with the Pakistnani High Commission,.....arent they supposed to reach out to their nationals on their own and help them.....now, they are waiting till their own nationals contacts them, what if they dont...their visas will expire at some point....
Were the couple expecting to travel to Pakistan with their newborn without his passport? That is so naive of them.
Shahid Afridi rightly said that the Indians will never have large hearts like Pakistanis.
The same can would never happen in Pakistan.
Before taking his 7 month old wife for over 2 months, did the husband not visualize that she could deliver there? She could have been taking anyone else child. If she delivered, the hospital would issue inform of the birth to the Municipal Committee and travel documents should be prepared. Alternatively, Pakistan High-commission can issue travel documents. What is the big deal. This is not the first time a baby is delivered on foreign land. Proper documentation must be prepared, that is all.
A good solution would be to stop coming.After all, it was the Scythian Muslims who dint want to be a part of India.Sorry, rules are rules.Follow it,just like the Islamic Ummah was an Empire, India today is also an empire, there are rules, Laws, which, even if you worship Allah(the One God), you will have to follow.Sorry.
What a shame !!! Indian newspapers give different story and the right one . http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/pakistani-family-caught-in-a-kafkaesque-nightmare/article5953935.ece?homepage=true .
Why would Indian officials block a Pakistani new born in India , when Indians don't like pakistanis . In future , Indian officials shouldn't allow any Pakistanis to come to India .
A pathetic display to say the least.
The border officers were right in refusing the couple to take the child with them into Pakistan on the grounds that it does not have valid documents. The reason for refusal being that there is no proof that the couple carrying that child were its real parents. Once the Pakistani High Commission issues the passport it will go home with its parents. Let this be a lesson to all. Do not travel to a foreign country when you are about to give birth and having given birth get a passport from your embassy.
Express Tribune may correct its article as it has got its facts wrong. Actually it was the Pakistani Authorities that did the stopping.
See Daily Bhaskar article titled "Pakistan Denies Entry To Child Born In India":
http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/WOR-pakistan-denies-entry-to-child-born-in-india-4595004-NOR.html
Also see article in The Hindu titled "Pakistani family caught in a Kafkaesque nightmare":
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/pakistani-family-caught-in-a-kafkaesque-nightmare/article5953935.ece
Logically Kid is an Indian citizen and parents r pakistanis.In this scenario,either they have to get an Indian passport or visa for the baby to travel into another country or pakistan .
Why is this a news? To highlight Pakistani ignorance that to cross international borders, you need valid travel documents? To highlight ET's bias to make a headline that "Pakistani couple stranded"? Pathetic.
Hope the Pakistani Consulate in New Delhi will arrange for needed documents on urgent basis, and will make it sure that the stranded Pakistani couple with their new born baby to return to home safely. I am sure Br. Abdul Basit, who is a renowned personality in Pakistan and abroad, currently holding the position of Pakistan High Commissioner will take personal note of this, and will end the trouble of couple in a matter of few days. Further, the Consulate Authorities dealing with Visa must make sure that the applicants comply with medical requirements for issue of visa, so that such type of situations could be averted in advance.
Space filler. How is this news?