A new development has emerged in the case of a former Sikh woman who travelled from India and married a Pakistani citizen, as her alleged husband, Indian national Karnail Singh, has challenged her nikah in a Lahore court.
Karnail Singh appointed former MPA Mahender Pal Singh as his representative and filed a petition in a local court in Lahore. However, the registrar’s office raised objections to the application.
The registrar noted that the special power of attorney had not been attested by the Foreign Office and that the petitioner had not approached the relevant forum to seek cancellation of the marriage.
In his plea, the Indian citizen stated that Sarbjit Kaur had arrived in Pakistan on 3 November 2025 on a 10-day pilgrimage visa.
He argued that under the Hindu Marriage Act, conversion does not automatically dissolve a prior marriage, and alleged that her declaration of being “divorced” in the nikahnama was false.
It is worth recalling that Sarbjit Kaur had travelled to Pakistan with a group of Sikh pilgrims, and her visa was valid until 13 November.
However, she did not return to India and, after converting to Islam, married Sheikhupura resident Nasir Hussain. She has since been residing in Pakistan and adopted the name Noor Fatima.
Earlier this year, she was taken into custody from a locality in Nankana Sahib district and shifted to a women’s shelter home in Lahore.
Preparations were reportedly under way to deport her to India via the Wagah Border, but at the eleventh hour she refused to return, leading to a temporary halt in the deportation process.
Sarbjit Kaur also submitted a request to the Government of Pakistan seeking permission not to be repatriated. Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry stated that her plea was being considered on humanitarian grounds.
