Pakistani man's Indian bride details ordeal in written reply to court
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday continued hearing the case of Indian national Uzma, who, in her six-page written reply to the court, reiterated her plea to be returned to India and allegation that she was 'forced to marry' her Pakistani husband, Tahir Ali.
Earlier this month, Uzma, 22, was reported to have gone 'missing' at the Indian High Commission, a few days after her marriage to Ali, a resident of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
It emerged later that she had sought refuge in the Indian High Commission requested to be repatriated back to India.
Explore: ‘Missing’ Indian woman asked to be repatriated: FO
First Secretary at the Indian High Commission Piyush Singh was present at the IHC today. Their lawyer, Shahnawaz Noon, submitted a written reply to court that detailed Uzma's version of events.
She had earlier claimed she was forced to marry Tahir Ali on gunpoint; however, a copy of the written reply obtained by Dawn.com revealed more details.
"Threatened to kill, harassed and badly humiliated;" that is the beginning of Uzma's story of her marriage. She says she was made to sign the Nikkah document with a gun on her head.
But before she signed the document, she claims being "mercilessly deadened, sedated through sleeping pills and sexually assaulted" at the Wagah Border. When she re-gained consciousness, she claims she was in Buner, KP. She added she was "tremendously tortured, physically and mentally" before being made to sign the marriage document.
Explore: Uzma to be repatriated only after completion of legal formalities: FO
Uzma's lawyer aims to get permission from Islamabad to allow her to go back to India. Uzma's visa is said to expire on May 30.
Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria had earlier told DawnNews that Uzma would only be able to return to her country once all the legal requirements were completed.