Pak woman granted Indian citizenship after 25 years wait

Twenty-five years after she applied for Indian citizenship, a Pakistani woman, married to a villager in Muzaffarnagar and residing in the country on a long-term visa, was granted Indian nationality on Monday.

Twenty-five years after she applied for Indian citizenship, a Pakistani woman, married to a villager in Muzaffarnagar and residing in the country on a long-term visa, was granted Indian nationality on Monday.

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50-year-old Kaniz Fatma had married Mohsim, a resident of Gangeru village, 25 years ago. She had applied for Indian citizenship immediately after her marriage; however, it was not accepted on some legal grounds. Since then she had been staying in the country on long-term visa, the woman's lawyer Nazar Mohd said.

She has been granted Indian citizenship today after a long wait, the lawyer said. According to official data, about 40 Pakistani women married to Indian nationals are living in Muzaffarnagar district on long-term visa.