Converted Sikh pilgrim likely to be deported from Pakistan
Sikh woman who converted to Islam and married in Pakistan faces deportation
Pakistani authorities were preparing to deport Sarabjeet Kaur, a Sikh woman from Punjab who went to Pakistan on a religious pilgrimage in November and did not return with her group. Officials said she was expected to be handed over to Indian authorities at the Attari-Wagah check post, though there was no confirmation of the transfer late on Monday night.
Sarabjeet Kaur had travelled to Pakistan as part of a Sikh jatha to visit Nankana Sahib on the occasion of Guru Nanak Dev’s birth anniversary. However, after reaching Pakistan, she went missing from the group, raising concerns among Indian authorities and her family.
Later developments revealed that she had converted to Islam and married a Pakistani man, Nasir Hussain, who is a resident of Sheikhupura district, located around 50 kilometres from Lahore. The case attracted wide attention in both India and Pakistan due to its religious, legal, and cross-border nature.
Pilgrimage and disappearance
Sarabjeet Kaur arrived in Pakistan on November 4 with the Sikh pilgrimage group. According to officials, she disappeared from the jatha shortly after arrival. When she did not return with the group, authorities began searching for her.
In the days that followed, reports emerged that she had married a local Muslim man in Sheikhupura district. Pakistani police later confirmed that she had converted to Islam and solemnised her marriage with Nasir Hussain just a day after reaching Pakistan.
On November 16, a Pakistani police official told news agency PTI that Sarabjeet Kaur had willingly converted to Islam and married Nasir Hussain of her own free will. The official said that both had gone into hiding, prompting police to search for the couple at that time.
As the case gained attention, Sarabjeet and Nasir approached the Lahore High Court. They alleged that police were harassing them and trying to force them to separate. They also claimed that an illegal raid had been conducted at their home in Farooqabad, a town in Sheikhupura district.
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After hearing the matter, Lahore High Court Justice Farooq Haider ordered the police not to harass the couple. The court directed authorities to respect their decision and personal liberty, following which the couple remained out of public view.
In her petition before the court, Sarabjeet stated that her husband is a Pakistani citizen. She also said that she had contacted the Indian mission to seek help in obtaining Pakistani nationality, indicating her intention to stay in Pakistan.
Arrest and deportation process
Despite the court’s earlier order, a joint team of Pakistan’s Intelligence Bureau and local police later arrested Sarabjeet Kaur and her husband, Nasir Hussain. Officials did not publicly explain the detailed reasons for the arrest, but soon after, the Pakistani government initiated the process to deport Sarabjeet to India.
Authorities said Sarabjeet was expected to be handed over to Indian officials at the Attari-Wagah border crossing on Monday evening. However, as of 11:30 pm, there was no official confirmation that the deportation had taken place.
Sources said that Sarabjeet’s legal status in Pakistan became uncertain due to visa conditions and citizenship rules. Since she entered the country on a pilgrimage visa, officials indicated that remaining in Pakistan beyond the permitted period could be a violation of immigration laws.
Sarabjeet Kaur has reportedly changed her name to Noor Hussain after converting to Islam. A short video, said to be from the couple’s nikah ceremony, surfaced on social media and was also circulated by Pakistani media outlets.
In the video, Sarabjeet is heard saying that she is converting to Islam willingly. She states that she loves Nasir Hussain and has known him for the past nine years. She also says that she is divorced and is marrying him of her own free will.
“I love Nasir and have known him for the past nine years. I am currently divorced and willingly marrying him,” she says in the video. The clip has been widely shared and discussed online, adding to public debate around the case.
Indian authorities have not made detailed public statements about the matter, but officials said they are in touch with their Pakistani counterparts. They are also monitoring the situation closely due to its diplomatic and legal implications.
The case has raised questions about cross-border marriages, religious conversion, visa rules, and personal choice. While Sarabjeet has maintained that her decisions were voluntary, authorities on both sides are required to follow immigration laws and diplomatic protocols.
As of now, it remains unclear when exactly Sarabjeet Kaur will be formally handed over to Indian authorities. Officials said further updates would be shared once the deportation process is completed.
The situation continues to draw attention as legal procedures move forward, with both countries closely watching the developments in this sensitive and high-profile case.
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