In a dramatic twist, Indian woman Anju, who came from Alwar all the way to Upper Dir in Pakistan, converted to Islam and married her Pakistani lover Nasrullah on Tuesday. She has been given the Islamic name of Fatima.
Anju appeared at Upper Dir district courts wearing a black burka. Nasrullah later attempted to refute the reports about their nikah. Speaking to Indian media, minutes after Pakistani TV cannels reported the marriage, Nasrullah said they visited the courts due to some security clearance issue and not to get married.
However, copies of the nikah document and an affidavit submitted by Anju as well as statements from senior police officials confirmed that Anju had indeed converted to Islam and married Nasrullah.
A video titled ‘Anju weds Nasrullah’ was also released on Monday apparently by the couple themselves. It shows them visiting scenic mountainous spots in the region as they hold hands and walk or sit close to each other.
Anju is see covered in the same back burka that she wore to the courts. However, it was not the shuttlecock burka that women in KP and Afghanistan. Instead, it was a black robe.
She covered her face while at the courts but left in uncovered roaming around elsewhere. They were joined with several other young men, the video shows.
Speaking to India Today, Nasrullah denied the reports about their nikah but could not explain why Anju was wearing a burka.
Sources told Aaj News that Anju did convert to Islam at the Upper Dir courts and later she married Nasrullah, who accompanied her. She was given the Islamic name of Fatima.
Malakand Division Deputy Inspector General Nasir Mehmood Satti also confirmed the nikah of Anju and Nasrullah.
Satti told Aaj News that the district police chief had informed him that the nikah was performed at the court of district and sessions judge and that after the nikah the couple was escorted to their home by the police to ensure their safety.
Anju submitted an affidavit before the court saying she was converting to Islam from Christianity under her free will and without duress.
She also said that under the nikah terms her haq-maher (dower) has been set at 10 tola gold. In Islam, dower is an amount that a husband pays to his wife whenever she demands.
In the affidavit, seen by Aaj News, Anju provided her address in Bhiwadi town of Alwar district and said that she ‘likes’ Nasrullah and arrived in Pakistan for his sake.
“Nasrullah is my legally wedded husband and I married him under free will. This is my statement which is correct and I did not hide anything,” she said in the affidavit.
The same detailed was entered in the nikah document called nikahnama.
The development comes a day after claims that they had no plans to get married.
Reports in Indian media said on Monday that Anju and Nasrullah had given up their marriage plans within hours after the news of Anju’s arrival in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province spread.
Speaking to Indian news agency PTI on Monday Nasruallh said, “Anju is on a visit to Pakistan and we have no plan to marry.”
He then added that Anju was living in a separate room with the female members of his family in Kulso.
“She will go back to her country on August 20 after her visa expires,” he was quoted as saying.
Separately, Anju released a video to social media saying she intends to go back within a few days. “I will be there within two or three days,” she said.
She had also urged people to not pester her family in India with questions as she was available to talk.
Anju arrived in Upper Dir on Friday on a valid visa that allowed her to travel to this remote area bordering Afghanistan.
After the news of her arrival broke on Sunday, Nasrullah revealed that it took them two years to get through the visa process. They decided that Anju will first meet his family in Pakistan before they take a final decision about marriage.
He said his family was wholeheartedly supporting Anju’s visit to Pakistan.
Not only the family, they also had to convince Indian and Pakistani officials that they had every right to meet. Anju visited Pakistan High Commission in Delhi and Nasrullah frequented the offices of Pakistan’s foreign and interior ministries in Islamabad.
Nasrullah had earlier said religion is not a factor in their story. Whether or not Anju converts to Islam, it will be her decision alone and he will respect that decision, he told BBC Urdu on Sunday.
Local people expressed positive views about Anju’s presence in Upper Dir saying she was a guest and daughter-in-law of Pakhtuns.
