Punjab: A Pakistani woman has gone missing after her visa was cancelled recently. In the wake of the Pahalgam attack, the Indian government has suspended visa services for Pakistani nationals and cancelled most existing visas except long-term, medical, diplomatic and official visas. Maria Bibi (28), married to Sonu Masih of Sathiali village, 5 km away, met a lawyer yesterday. She was accompanied by her husband and mother-in-law. Minutes after that meeting, she went missing. She is with her family. On Saturday, she went to Gurdaspur Civil Hospital for a medical check-up. She came in contact with Sonu through social media about six years ago.
She repeatedly tried to come to India but could not do so as Indian authorities did not grant her a visa. On July 4, 2024, she somehow managed to get a tourist visa. She reached India and married Sonu four days later. She hails from Gujranwala in Pakistan. Sonu said that a team of Gurdaspur police came to their house and told them that Maria had to return to Pakistan. He said, “They told us that Maria should leave India immediately as per the instructions of the central government.” SSP Aditya said, “We know that he is absconding. We will follow the instructions of the Home Ministry. We will arrest him and send him back to Pakistan soon.”
