Lahore: A fresh video circulating in Pakistani media has brought new clarity to the case of 48-year-old Sarabjit Kaur from Punjab, who went missing during a religious visit to Pakistan late last year. The footage shows her seated inside a car alongside her lawyer, indicating that she has been released from a women’s protection facility in Lahore.
Sarabjit Kaur, a resident of Kapurthala district, had travelled to Pakistan in November as part of a Sikh delegation marking the 556th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. After her disappearance, her family in India raised concerns, prompting authorities to begin inquiries on both sides of the border.
Subsequent developments revealed that she had allegedly converted to Islam, adopted the name Noor Fatima, and married a Pakistani national. Reports state that she had been living in Pakistan but was detained last month for overstaying her visa. Legal proceedings were initiated to determine whether she should be deported to India.
During the legal review, she was accommodated at Dar-ul-Aman, a government-run women’s shelter in Lahore that houses women involved in legal or family disputes.
In the newly surfaced video, Sarabjit — now identifying herself as Noor Fatima — says she has returned to her husband’s residence following her release. She claims that the couple has known each other for eight years and describes their relationship as one built on mutual consent and affection. She further states that she intends to continue living in Pakistan and has no desire to return to India.
Media accounts suggest that her release took place on February 11, after authorities reportedly paused deportation plans while reviewing her legal standing.
The case has drawn attention in both countries, touching on sensitive issues of cross-border movement, personal choice, and immigration regulations. Officials have yet to issue a detailed public statement outlining the next steps, if any, in her case.
