Pak man accuses Indian mission of detaining wife, officials say she sought help

The Pakistan foreign office said the woman approached them asking to be repatriated to India as she learnt that her husband was already married and had four children.

A Pakistani man has accused the Indian High Commission in Islamabad of detaining his newly-wed Indian wife after they went there to apply for his visa, media reports said on Sunday.

Chancery premises of the High Commission of India in Islamabad. (MEA website)

However, the Pakistan foreign office refuted the claims and said the woman approached them asking to be repatriated to India as she learnt that her husband was already married and had four children.

Uzma, who hails from New Delhi, and Tahir met in Malaysia and fell in love with each other after which she travelled to Pakistan on May 1 via the Wagah border. The two contracted nikkah (marriage) on May 3.

According to Tahir, they visited the High Commission building and submitted visa forms as well as their phones to the officials. Uzma then went inside on being called by the officials while he stayed back, reports said.

When his wife did not return after several hours, Tahir enquired about her from officials, who claimed she was not there. Tahir alleged that the officials also refused to give their three mobile phones back to him.

The Indian High Commission, however, claimed that Uzma has been staying there on her own will.

They said they had told her husband to visit the High Commission on Monday to meet his wife and get the visa as well, it said.

According to sources, the high commission is providing necessary consular assistance to the woman and is in touch with the Pakistan Foreign Office and the woman’s family in India.

Earlier an Indian High Commission official when enquired about the alleged detention told PTI, “Please check with JSXP (external affairs ministry spokesman) in Delhi.”

The matter has also been taken up at the diplomatic level by Pakistan, the reports said.