Pak bride appeals to Modi, Sushma for visa extension

Amritsar: Pakistani bride Kiran Sarjeet has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, seeking their intervention for extension of her visa and permission to travel to her husband’s village in Ambala before her visa to India expires on April 20.

A resident of Qadian in Gurdaspur district, Chaudhary Maqbool Ahmad, who has been helping Kiran and other Pakistani brides married in Qadian, Ahmadiyya Muslims headquarters, and other places, said Kiran’s online application for extension of visa and for adding an additional place to visit her husband’s village Tepla in Ambala had been accepted but the hard copies of her application were not being accepted.

“Fearing she may not get visa extension, Kiran has appealed to Modi and Swaraj, seeking their help,” said Maqbool. A resident of Wan village in Sialkot, Pakistan, Kiran, along with her relatives, had arrived in India on March 7 for her marriage at Tepla village, near Ambala, to Parwinder Singh on a 45-day visa, which would expire on April 20. She had married Parwinder on March 9 in Patiala.

Kiran said that she had been asked to submit her documents in Ambala since her husband belonged to Ambala but she couldn’t travel there since she had visa for Patiala only. “I have heard Sushma Swaraj had helped many people and hope she will also help me,” she said and added that she had also approached Punjab’s department of home affairs and justice, but to no avail.

Parwinder said since his wife couldn’t travel to Ambala so he was forced to live in Patiala and shift her business. Kiran said that her uncle in Patiala had sponsored her visa and he was also his guarantor, along with her husband, who was also a second guarantor.

“There are over 12 Pakistani brides living in Qadian. I don’t think anyone would have any problem in applying for extension of visa or adding another place to visit,” said Maqbool.