Geeta recognises family from snapshots

Black and white pictures of a couple from Bihar were shared by the Indian High Commission

KARACHI: An Indian woman who was split from her family as a 11 year-old child will be returning home after spending more than 13 years in Pakistan.

Geeta, now in her early twenties, has recognised pictures of her family that were shared by the Indian High Commission. But before she is reunited with her family she will undergo DNA tests.

Edhi Foundation’s head Faisal Edhi told The Express Tribune that ten days ago, they had received black and white pictures of a couple from Bihar.

When Geeta recognised them as her parents, Faisal approached the Indian High Commission for more pictures. On Wednesday they received more images.

“Geeta recognised one sister and one brother immediately and recognised the two others after a while,” Faisal said of the picture of four brothers and sisters.

The social worker added that Geeta now keeps the pictures of her family with her.

Thirteen years ago, Geeta was found wandering by the Punjab Rangers after having mistakenly crossed the border through the Samjhauta Express. Unable to explain who she was or where she had come from, the Rangers had given her into the care of Edhi Foundation in Lahore. She was soon moved to Karachi where she has been living at the organization’s head office at Mithadar.

Her story gained prominence after this summer’s blockbuster Indian film Bajrangi Bhaijaan. In the film, actor Salman Khan helps a mute Pakistani to return home after she was lost in India under similar circumstances.

DNA tests

India External Affairs Minister Shushma Swaraj said on Thursday that Geeta will be ‘coming home’ but only after a DNA test confirms that the family whose photographs she was hers.

“Geeta will be back in India soon. We have located her family. She will be handed over to them only after the DNA test,” Swaraj wrote on Twitter. “Geeta is a daughter of India, and we will be bringing her back very shortly,” Swaraj added.

The External Affairs spokesperson VIkas Swarup added that three sets of photos had been sent to Geeta, of which she had recognized the family in one set. “If DNA testing verifies that they are indeed her parents, she will be handed over to them.”

Travel arrangements

While India is still verifying the information surrounding Geeta’s family, Faisal says that arrangements for Geeta’s travel to New Delhi have been finalised and that she will be leaving Pakistan as soon as October 26.

“Geeta’s travel documents have been completed and her visa has been issued by the Pakistani government.”

Geeta will not be going alone though. She will be accompanied by Bilquis Edhi, the wife of Edhi Foundation founder Abdul Sattar Edhi. Faisal’s wife and son will also travel with them to India.

Swarup had told reporters on Thursday that Geeta’s nationality had already been verified and that her return to India was not dependent on her recognising her family.


Published in The Express Tribune, October 16^th, 2015.