Uncertainty and distress for Pakistan nationals at Attari border after exit deadline
Attari-Wagah border
, scenes of distress and uncertainty unfolded at the Integrated Check Post (ICP) here.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that immigration authorities might be permitting the return of Pakistani women from Jammu and Kashmir, some accompanied by infants, as the situation continued to evolve with no official statement from the authorities.
According to sources, at least five Pakistani women, accompanied by infants just a few days to a few months old, were brought to the ICP from Jammu and Kashmir and pleaded with immigration officials not to be separated from their children. While it was claimed that the infants also held valid emergency permits to cross the border, so they were allowed to cross over to Pakistan with their mothers.
At approximately 6 pm, a few burqa-clad women were seen exiting the ICP, but they declined to speak to the media. "These women lacked any valid travel documents, so they were not permitted to cross into Pakistan and were sent back," said sources.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
These Are The Most Beautiful Women In The World
5minstory.com
Undo
Official confirmation of these events could not be obtained, as no immigration authority was willing to comment on record.
In another tragic development, sources informed that a 68-year-old Pakistani national Abdul Wahid who also arrived from Jammu and Kashmir for crossing over to Pakistan collapsed due to a medical condition and was taken to a hospital, where he later passed away.
Meanwhile, several families continue to be caught in the uncertainty following the April 29 directive.
Muhammad Ibrahim, a Delhi resident, arrived at Attari to receive his two children who returned from Pakistan. His wife, Saima, a Pakistani national from Lahore, travelled to Pakistan on a three-month visa and overstayed due to the sudden death of her brother. As per the govt order issued after the Pahalgam attack, their children, holding Indian passports, were instructed to return, but Saima now needs to reapply for a visa due to her expired documentation.
"We've been married for 18 years, and this situation was completely unexpected," said Ibrahim, echoing the emotional strain felt by many cross-border families.
Samreen, another Pakistani national, also shared her ordeal. Having arrived in India in Sept 2024 on a 45-day visa, she later married an Indian national and applied for a long-term visa (LTV), which remains under process. "I applied for an LTV, but after the Pahalgam incident, I was suddenly asked to return. What is my fault? Why are we being punished?" she asked tearfully.
In Baramulla, Ghulam Masood, who has been married for four decades, recounted how, on April 28 police visited his home and instructed both his wife and daughter-in-law —Pakistani nationals — to return to Pakistan. "This has never happened before. It feels like our lives have been turned upside down overnight," he said.
Clearance of Pakistani nationals at the ICP Attari was still ongoing at the time of filing this report, as uncertainty and anguish loomed over the families affected by the sudden enforcement of exit orders.
MSID:: 120766991 413 |
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
26 minutes ago
- Mint
Nimisha Priya's death sentence overturned by Yemen authorities: Grand Mufti's office
The death sentence of Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse convicted of murder in Yemen, has been "completely overturned," according to a statement released Monday by the office of Indian Grand Mufti Kanthapuram AP Abubakker Musliyar. The Grand Mufti's office said the decision came following a high-level meeting in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, where authorities agreed to fully revoke the death penalty, which had previously been under temporary suspension. According to the statement, as reported by ANI 'The death sentence of Nimisha Priya, which was previously suspended, has been overturned. A high-level meeting held in Sanaa decided to completely cancel the death sentence that was temporarily suspended earlier' Nimisha Priya, a 37-year-old Indian nurse from Kerala, was scheduled to be executed on July 16, after she was convicted of killing a Yemeni national in June 2018, a decision that was upheld by the country's Supreme Judicial Council in November 2023. However, her execution was postponed, following "concerted efforts" by the Government of India. Earlier on July 17, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that it was actively working to support Nimisha Priya and was extending all possible assistance in the case. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, during a press briefing, stated that the MEA had appointed a lawyer to assist Priya's family in navigating the complex legal process in Yemen. This includes exploring options for clemency or pardon under Sharia law. Nimisha Priya is a trained nurse and has worked in private hospitals in Yemen for a few years. Her husband and minor daughter returned to India in 2014 because of financial reasons, and in that same year, Yemen was gripped by civil war, and they could not go back as the country stopped issuing new visas. Later in 2015, Nimisha joined hands with a Yemeni citizen, Talal Abdo Mahdi, to set up her clinic in Sanaa. She sought Mahdi's support because, under Yemen's law, only nationals are allowed to set up clinics and business firms. In 2015, Mahdi accompanied Nimisha Priya to Kerala when she came for a month-long holiday. During the visit, he stole a wedding photograph of Nimisha, which he later manipulated to claim that he was married to her. A plea made by the mother of Nimisha Priya had stated, "After a while, Nimisha's clinic began, Mahdi manipulated the ownership documents of the clinic. He also began to take money out of her monthly earnings after telling everyone that Nimisha was his wife. Nimisha had alleged that Mahdi had been harassing her and her family for years. Mahdi also seized her passport. This was done to ensure that she would not leave Yemen. He tortured her under the influence of drugs. He threatened her at gunpoint several times. He took all the money from the clinic and her ornaments." The plea further alleged that, unable to cope with the torture, Nimisha complained to the police in Sanaa, but instead of taking action against Mahdi, the police arrested her and put her in jail for six days. It was further alleged that on her return from jail, the severity of the torture increased manifold. In July 2017, Nimisha took the help of a warden of a jail located near her clinic. The warden suggested that she should try to sedate him and then convince him to give her the passport. However, sedation did not affect Mahdi, who was a substance abuser. She tried sedating him again, using a stronger sedative in order to retrieve her passport, but he died within a few minutes due to a drug overdose. (ANI)
Indian Express
26 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Indian nurse Nimisha Priya's death sentence ‘cancelled' in Yemen, says Indian Grand Mufti Musliyar's office
In a major relief for Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who was convicted of murder in Yemen, her death sentence announced by Yemeni authorities has been 'overturned' and 'completely cancelled', news agency ANI reported quoting the office of Indian Grand Mufti, Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar on Tuesday. According to the statement issued by the Indian Grand Mufti's office, the decision to overturn Nimisha Priya's death sentence was taken after a high-level meeting held in Yemen's capital Sanaa, wherein it was reportedly decided that her execution would be 'completely cancelled' which was earlier temporarily suspended. On the case of Nimisha Priya, an Indian national facing the death penalty in a murder case in Yemen, Indian Grand Mufti, Kanthapuram AP Abubakker Muslaiyar's office says, 'The death sentence of Nimisha Priya, which was previously suspended, has been overturned. A high-level… — ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2025 The 37-year-old Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who belongs to Kerala, was originally scheduled to be executed on July 16 by the Yemen authorities but the death sentence was temporarily halted a day earlier amid the intervention of the Indian government, after it requested the Yemen administration to seek more time for the family to reach a mutually agreeable solution with the other party. The statement issued by the Indian Grand Mufti, Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar's office said, 'The death sentence of Nimisha Priya, which was previously suspended, has been overturned. A high-level meeting held in Sanaa decided to completely cancel the death sentence that was temporarily suspended earlier.' The Ministry of External Affairs, on July 17, had said that it was actively working to support and provide all possible assistance to Nimisha Priya in Yemen. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, during a press briefing, had said that the ministry had appointed a lawyer to assist nurse Priya's family to aid in the legal procedures in Yemen.
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
Pahalgam victims' kin thank Army for eliminating three terrorists
Thane/Navi Mumbai: Families of tourists from Dombivli and Navi Mumbai who were killed or injured in the Pahalgam, J&K, massacre of April 22, thanked the Indian Army for eliminating three terrorists, including Suleiman Shah, who is believed to have led the attack, in Srinagar on Monday. Six tourists from Maharashtra were shot dead and six others injured when a group of assailants escaped after having shot dead 26 tourists in Baisaran meadow. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor to destroy terror bases in Pakistan. Kamothe resident Subodh Patil (52), who survived after a bullet grazed his neck, said, "I saw Monday's news on television. It is indeed satisfactory and worth appreciating that the govt did not rest after Operation Sindoor, and ensured that the mastermind is eliminated." You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Atul Mone, Sanjay Lele and Hemant Joshi, three cousins from Dombivli, near Mumbai, lost their lives that fateful day. Hemant and Atul were cousins of Sanjay's wife, Kavita, and lived within a kilometre of each other in Dombivli East. On Monday, Sanjay Lele's son Harshal congratulated the Indian Army. "It was my father's birthday on Sunday, July 27, and by coincidence, on Monday, July 28, the Army eliminated the mastermind. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Up to 70% off | Shop Sale Libas Undo This is a true tribute to my father. I used to buy a cake on his birthday every year, but this year, Baba was not there." Harshal was happy that the Army was not resting on its laurels. "It often happens that after a few days of a furore, everything calms down. But the Army has continued its operation. I hope it will kill all the terrorists involved." He added, "I feel that the Indo-Pak cricket and hockey matches should not be held either. Earlier, I believed that sports should not be mixed with politics. But unless we completely boycott them, there will be no reformation," he said. Pune-based Nitin Desale, son of New Panvel resident Dilip Desale (64), who was killed, did not respond to calls and text messages for comment on Monday. After Operation Sindoor Nitin had said, "It feels good... This revenge shows that the govt cares about the lives of ordinary citizens. I have complete faith in our defence forces and govt." The Pahalgam terror strike that shook the safety perception of the nation had destroyed the lives of newly married couples, fledgling households, and families who were simply visiting the 'Paradise on Earth' to enjoy their summer break.
