An Indian Sikh woman, Sarbjit Kaur, told a magistrate in Sheikhupura that she has converted to Islam of her own free will and married a Pakistani citizen, Naseer Hussain. Appearing before Judicial Magistrate Shahbaz Hassan Rana, she stated that she had adopted the Islamic name Noor and wished to live with her husband without interference.
Kaur was represented in court by advocate Ahmad Hassan Pasha. In her sworn statement, she said she decided independently to embrace Islam and enter into marriage with Hussain. Court documents show that the marriage took place on November 5 in Farooqabad, Sheikhupura district, with a dower of ten thousand rupees, which has been paid. She also confirmed that she faced no pressure at any point during her conversion or marriage.
Her petition repeated that she had willingly changed her faith and chosen her new name, Noor. The marriage certificate records her status as a divorced woman and mother of two children.
Kaur arrived in Pakistan on November 4 as part of a Sikh pilgrims’ group. She later separated from the group and married Hussain. Her absence was noticed when the Indian pilgrims prepared to return on November 13 after completing their ten-day visit.
Reports of her disappearance prompted police and intelligence agencies to begin a search. By Friday, officials learned that she had married a Pakistani citizen, and on Saturday she appeared before the magistrate to give her official statement.
Authorities will now determine whether she will be allowed to remain in Pakistan or be repatriated to India. Her visa expired on November 13.
