Indian woman married to Pakistani lover returns home, awaits visa

DIR: Indian woman, Anju — now Fatima — who made headlines at home and abroad for travelling to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and marrying an Upper Dir man Nasrullah, left Pakistan to reunite with her two children. 

According to The News, Anju went to India via the Wagah border two days ago as her husband expressed hope that she would return to Pakistan after two or three months. 

Anju, 34, had met and married Nasrullah five months after their Facebook friendship and arrived in Upper Dir on July 22 this year. 

Speaking to The News, Nasrullah said that Anju had departed for her home country after spending a few days in Islamabad and Lahore. The couple had recently visited historical sites in Lahore, including the Badshahi Mosque, Badshahi Qilla, and Pakistan Park. 

Nasrullah said that Anju had been missing her two children since she came to Pakistan. “I said goodbye to Anju (Fatima) at the Wagah border and she entered her country at two o’clock on Wednesday,” he said.

He added that Anju’s one-month visa had already expired, adding that they had applied to the Ministry of Interior to extend the period, but due to some difficulties, it could not be completed yet and the formal process was supposed to take four months to one year.

Earlier in August, it was reported that Anju was granted a one-year extension to her visa by the Pakistani authorities. 

Nasrullah said that despite repeated pleas by Anju, the visa was not extended so she decided to go back through a 15-day departure letter and cancelled the visa extension application.

He said that before returning to India, they were given a farewell party by several friends in Lahore. Responding to a question, Nasrullah said that she would come to Pakistan again after three months. He said that if her visa had been extended for one year, it would have been better, but it did not happen.

“If I get a visa for India, then I will take Anju back myself," he said, adding that Anju was facing a divorce case from her first husband in India and she wished to meet her children. He said that Anju had got a lot of love and respect from everyone here in Pakistan.

Nasrullah expressed gratitude to the people of Dir for their unwavering support, stating they had lacked nothing. Family sources indicated a potential permanent move to Dubai for a peaceful life, where Anju could be closer to her children.

Anju had previously undergone a court marriage with Nasrullah after converting to Islam in Upper Dir. The couple received widespread love and respect from locals and organisations across the country. Several companies and business organisations showed generosity by announcing plots and offering gifts to the couple in various parts of the country.