Nat Geo’s ‘Afghan girl’ Sharbat Gula to be deported from Pakistan

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Friday sentenced Sharbat Gula to 15 days in prison and a Rs 110,000 fine after she plead guilty to charges of possessing a fake Pakistani identity card. 

After the completion of her sentence which starts from the time of her arrest, Sharbat Gula will be deported from Pakistan. 

Sharbat Gula was arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for illegally possessing a Pakistani computerised national identity card (CNIC). A case against her and three former National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) employees was registered on October 20. 

Sharbat Gula, who fled Afghanistan during Soviet occupation shot to fame after her photograph as a young refugee was published on the cover of National Geographic magazine back in 1985 on her arrival to Peshawar.

The FIA arrested her from Nauthia, Peshawar, on the charges of possessing fake Pakistani CNIC. The FIA was looking into the issuance of CNICs in her name and in the name of two Afghan men who were mentioned as her sons in the registration forms.

Legal troubles over

Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Omar Zakhilwal announced on social media that Sharbat Gula was free from her legal troubles.

Dr Zakhilwal said Sharbat Gula will be travelling back to Afghanistan as soon as Monday where she is a beloved image and national icon. She will be met by President Ashraf Ghani upon her arrival to welcome her back home and help her with her resettlement. 

The Afghan Ambassador thanked all those who voiced their support and sympathy to the case of Sharbat Gula. This includes prominent as well as ordinary people within the Government, civil society, Peshawar Court and FIA office, media and the public in large. You all played a significant role resulting in today's good news.

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