Kapurthala/Islamabad: The return of Sarabjit Kaur, a resident of Punjab’s Kapurthala district who travelled to Pakistan as part of a Sikh religious delegation, has been put on hold after Pakistani authorities initiated steps to extend her visa instead of deporting her to India. Officials confirmed that the decision follows an appeal approved by Pakistan’s Minister of State for Interior, Muhammad Talal Chaudhry.
Sarabjit Kaur, who is now reportedly known as Noor Fatima after embracing Islam, remains in Pakistan as a legal matter linked to her case is currently under consideration in a Lahore court. Until the proceedings conclude, her repatriation to India has been deferred.
Sarabjit had crossed into Pakistan on November 4 last year with a large group of pilgrims organised by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. The group entered Pakistan through the Attari border and stayed for ten days. When the pilgrims returned on November 13, authorities noticed that one member of the delegation was missing. Immigration records later confirmed that Sarabjit had neither exited Pakistan nor re-entered India.
As officials searched for her whereabouts, documents surfaced online claiming that she had converted to Islam and married a Pakistani national from Sheikhupura, identified as Noor Hussain, also referred to as Nasir. Around the same time, a video circulated on social media in which Sarabjit was seen declaring her intent to adopt Islam. In the recording, she stated that she had known Nasir for nearly nine years and insisted that her decision was voluntary. She also claimed that she had already separated from her previous marriage.
Subsequent scrutiny of her visa paperwork revealed significant gaps. Key details, including her nationality and passport number, were reportedly missing from Pakistani immigration forms, complicating efforts to track her legal status. Following the marriage, she was believed to be staying at undisclosed locations, prompting police to launch a search operation.
On January 4, Pakistani police detained Sarabjit and her husband after tracing them. Images of her in custody later appeared online. The couple subsequently approached the court, alleging harassment by law enforcement agencies. In an earlier order, Lahore High Court Judge Farrukh Haider observed that if Sarabjit’s conversion and marriage were carried out of her own free will, authorities should refrain from undue interference.
Back in India, Sarabjit’s background has also drawn attention. She hails from Amanipur village in Kapurthala district, which falls under the jurisdiction of Talwandi Chaudhrian police station. Local residents have stated that she is divorced and has two sons. Police records indicate that she faces more than ten cases in the Sultanpur Lodhi area, including allegations related to prostitution. Villagers describe her as a private individual who kept limited contact with the local community despite owning a large house in the area.
With legal proceedings ongoing in Pakistan and her visa now under extension, officials on both sides say Sarabjit Kaur’s future movement will depend on court rulings and diplomatic coordination, leaving her return to India uncertain for the time being.
