Uzma, a 20 year old Indian woman approached the High Commission in Islamabad. On Monday, she requested to be sent back to India. The woman claims to have been forced into marrying a Pakistani was tortured and assaulted.
Uzma, daughter of Sagheer Ahmed from Delhi went to Pakistan through the Wagah border on the 1st of May. Tahir Ali picked Uzma, who she had met in Malaysia and the two had become friends. A number of TV channels in Pakistan have been airing this ‘love story.’
On Monday, news that shocked many that the woman has sought refuge in the Indian High Commission and wants to be repatriated.
Uzma filed a case against her husband on Monday at an Islamabad court. The alleged victim told her sad tale, “He was soft spoken, a nice person and spoke to me in English. When I came back to India and got again in touch with him, he told me to come to Pakistan. He sent me the sponsor letter and I crossed into Pakistan via Wagah border.”
The woman met him in Malaysia where Tahir Ali was a cab driver and in her statement she revealed, “That night Tahir assaulted and tortured me and threatened to kill me if I do not sign the Nikah Nama (marriage papers). They took my signature on gun point. They made me marry forcibly for which I was not mentally ready.”
Uzma also explained that only after coming to Pakistan did she realize that Tahir Ali was already married with four children.
The woman seems scared for her life, she told the court, “If I go to Tahir’s village only my dead body will come. My immigration papers were snatched by Tahir in front of the High Commission. I will stay inside the High Commission.”
Tahir Ali was questioned about the allegations against him but he denies fooling Uzma. “She was well aware that I was already married and she went to the Indian High Commission on May 5 for an interview to get a visa for me. I accompanied her. But the High Commission officials asked me to wait outside. When my wife did not return after three hours I asked from the counter who told me to go back as she did not want to go with me,” he explained and also revealed she married him on her own free will.
