Indian woman, Pakistani Facebook friend deny claims of getting married

New Delhi, India

After reports of a 34-year-old married Indian woman and a mother of two, named Anju getting married to her 29 years old Pakistani Facebook friend Nasrullah, the duo denied the claims reports India Today media portal.

The denial of the came after Pakistani police confirmed that both tied the knot in a local court of a district and sessions judge after Anju converted to Islam. Notably, Anju travelled to Pakistan legally on a valid visa. 

Speaking with India Today, Nasrullah denied the marriage reports and said, "No, these are all false rumours being spread. Our marriage did not take place." 

"We appeared before the court because we were in danger and went before the court to request security. The government has also provided us with the security of 50 police officers because Anju is a foreigner," he said adding, "Anju is a foreign national in Pakistan. Her life is in danger. She could be attacked at any time. There are different kinds of people here. We want to protect her, which is why we appeared before the court."

He refuted the authenticity of the marriage certificate and said these are false rumours being spread. "Anju is my best friend," he said of his relationship with the Indian woman. 

Over the reports of Anju converting to Islam, Nasrullah said, "Wearing a burqa is the tradition here. We made Anju wear it so that no one could recognise her." 

"She still practices the religion she did," he said adding, "She is my best friend. She came on a tourist visa. She wanted to see Pakistan." 

When asked if he will marry Anju after her divorce, the Pakistani man said, "That's her decision. If she says so, then I will. But for now, she is going back to India."

Speaking in the same vein, Anju said, "Claims of Nasrullah and I getting married are false. There is a process through which I will come back to India, which is why I went there."

"Rumours are made up, but we did not get married," she said. 

As per earlier reports by the PTI news agency, the marriage of Anju and Nasrullah was solemnised in the presence of his family members, police personnel, and lawyers at the district court in Dir Bala in Pakistan's Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

Malakand Division Deputy Inspector General Nasir Mehmood Satti confirmed the Nikah of Anju and Nasrullah, stating that Anju has been given the name Fatima following her conversion to Islam. After the wedding, Anju was provided police security as she was shifted to Nasrullah's home, according to previous reports. 

"She traveled to Pakistan on a month-long visit visa and all her travel documents are valid and complete," Upper Dir District Police Officer (DPO) Mushtaq Khan said on Monday adding, "Anju has come to Pakistan from New Delhi for the sake of love and is living happily here." 

Sightseeing trip 

Before the alleged wedding, Anju and Nasrullah went on a sightseeing trip to the Lawari tunnel connecting Dir Upper District with Chitral District. In pictures from their trip, they were seen holding hands in a garden.

Also Read | ‘Strategic trust eroded,’ Indian NSA Ajit Doval minces no words in talks with China

Anju shared a video expressing that she feels safe in Pakistan and requested the media not to harass her relatives and children. "I want to give this message to all that I have come here legally and with planning as it was not about two days that I came here all of a sudden, and I am safe here," she said in the video and added, "I request all the media persons not to harass my relatives and children." 

Legal travel to Pakistan

Anju had traveled legally from India to Pakistan via the Wagah-Attari border. A 30-day visa which is valid only for Upper Dir has been granted to Anju.  

Also Read | US banks pressed to rectify ‘inaccurate’ financial statements. Here's why

Earlier, the Pakistani groom Nasrullah provided an affidavit to local authorities stating that their friendship has no love angle, and Anju will return to India by August 20. The police confirmed that Anju's travel documents were in order, and she was allowed to stay with Nasrullah, who was instructed to look after her.

Anju's family 

Anju's husband Arvind, back in Rajasthan, told a media outlet that Anju had left home on the pretext of going to Jaipur but later they found out she was in Pakistan. He remained hopeful that she would return home.

Watch | UK: Boris Johnson's former aide gets life peerage; controversy over 'young' peers 

Anju's situation is reminiscent of the case of Seema Ghulam Haider, a Pakistani woman who had sneaked into India and married Sachin Meena, whom she met while playing PUBG in 2019. Seema and Sachin live together in the Rabupura area of Greater Noida near Delhi, according to the Uttar Pradesh Police.