Ministry directed to decide application of Indian woman

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Friday ordered the Foreign Ministry to decide within three days an application for extension in visa of an Indian woman, who married a Pakistani during her visit after embracing Islam.

The court also ordered the petitioner woman to appear before the ministry on Monday for the purpose.

Justice Jawad Hassan passed the orders while disposing of a petition filed by Amina Bibi, know as kiran Bala earlier, seeking directions for finalising her application of extension in visa.

During the proceedings, the petitioner's counsel arguing before the court submitted that petitioner Amina Bibi was an Indian National, who was a Sikh by birth. She arrived along with a delegation of Sikh Yatrees in Pakistan on April 11, he said and added that she willfully converted to Islam and married Muhammad Azam, a resident of Lahore, as both were acquainted with each other through Facebook.

He contended that the petitioner became entitled to get Pakistani citizenship after her marriage with a Pakistani and to get this materialised, the petitioner wrote applications to the respondents for grant of citizenship and extension in Visa on April 18.

He mentioned that after accepting Islam and married here, the petitioner could face security problem if she returns to India.

He pleaded with the court to direct the ministry concerned to decide the application of the petitioner by April 21 as her visa was expiring on the same date.

The court after hearing the arguments disposed of the petition and ordered the Foreign Ministry to decide the application of the petitioner for extension in visa within three days.