Visas revoked, dream visit to Punjab cut short

For young Zumer, Um-e-Romal, Zunaire and Fatima, the sudden departure made no sense. Just days earlier, they had been laughing and playing with their cousins and friends in Malerkotla.

But after India revoked all valid visas for Pakistani nationals following the April 22 Pahalgam attack, these children and their families were forced to abruptly pack their bags and return to Pakistan. A total of 16 Pakistani nationals left the town under the order.

These children had been looking forward to attending a social event at a resort here, but they instead spent the night at the Foreign Regional Registration Office (FRRO), completing exit formalities.

Asgar Ali, a local resident, struggled to explain to the children why he couldn’t keep his promises — to show them their parents’ ancestral village and the historic sites they had dreamed of visiting during their 45-day stay.

“These eight family members, led by my Pakistani cousins Zulaf Ali and Abdul Rahim, are the victims of the politics of hatred,” said Asgar. His guests had arrived in India on May 21, registered at the FRRO in Malerkotla on May 22 and were abruptly told to leave by Thursday evening.

Unlike other visiting Pakistanis, these families had gone to great lengths to reunite with their Indian relatives. “Our clan consisting of six families spent years tracing relatives who migrated to Pakistan during the Partition. It was only last year that we finally contacted them and convinced them to apply for passports to visit Malerkotla,” Asgar said, adding that the families had scrimped for months to afford the visa fees and travel expenses.

Mohammad Hanif, a Pakistani wrestler, was heartbroken at leaving without meeting friends and relatives in Malerkotla and other places in Punjab, including fellow wrestlers at local akharas.

Zamil, a local wrestler, recalled how his uncle, Mohammad Hanif, was stunned when told he had to leave within 24 hours. “We must accept the government’s will as God’s decree. At least I have seen my loved ones, who knows if we’ll meet again?” Hanif told his brother (Zamil’s father) before departing in the early hours of Friday.

While 22 Pakistani women married to locals reside here permanently, several others seeking Indian citizenship now face uncertainty.

The abrupt departure has also dashed hopes of future reunions. “My wife Summayia is devastated. Her aunt may never get to visit us now,” said Sajid Khan of Ahmedgarh.

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