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Pakistan assures Afghan diplomats of maximum support
By Shamim Shahid-PESHAWAR: Nat-Geo celebrity Sharbat Gula’s arrest, sentencing to 15 days imprisonment and deportation to Afghanistan, turned to another direction when local authorities got her thumb impression, pleading that she might be allowed to stay in Pakistan as atmosphere is not conducive for leaving in Afghanistan. However, the Afghan “Mona Lisa” stressed on going back to her homeland, Afghanistan.
According to Afghanistan Consulate General’s attorney Mr Wafi Ullah Advocate, thumb impression of Ms Gula was secured by an official of Peshawar Central Jail on Sunday. Gula is under treatment in Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar since November 2 (Wednesday) when a court of law rejected her bail plea in a case pertained to getting Pakistan’s National Identity Card through fake and fraudulent ways.
Though high ups from Home and Tribal Affairs Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has not issued any formal statement in this respect but the provincial government has already addressed a letter to federal government, pleading for revival of court decision pertained to Sharbat Gullah’s deportation to Afghanistan on completion of her 15 days sentence.
The Afghan diplomats in Peshawar and Islamabad after holding a meeting with high ups in Home and Tribal Affairs department on Monday rushed to Directorate of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) at Hayatabad, Peshawar. Wafi Ullah said that Afghan diplomats requested Director General of FIA in Peshawar to early complete arrangements regarding deportation of Ms Sharbat Gula to Afghanistan. They also pleaded before the FIA high ups not to allow shifting of Ms Gula to Peshawar central jail from hospital.
The Afghan diplomats after coming to know about thumb impression of Ms Gula to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa prison department officials rushed to Lady Reading Hospital. They called on Ms Gula and her relatives and inquired about thumb impression. Wafi Ullah who was present in the meeting said, “Gula has rejected impressions for the purposes of continuing stay in Pakistan.” She said, “Officer concerned told her that this document is pertained to your deportation to Afghanistan in according to court decision.” They also left Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar with a signed letter of Sharbat Gula, thanking Pakistan for hospitality and pleading to let her to go back to motherland.
Later Afghan diplomats with a video-talk of Gula rushed to home department whereas they informed them about Sharbat Gullah’s desire of returning to Afghanistan. So far Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has not made mind regarding future of Sharbat Gula.
Wafi Ullah Advocate said that 15-days sentence of Ms Gula will be completed on Tuesday.
Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani Advisor to KP Chief Minister on Information has said, “We have no objection if she wants to go back Afghanistan.”
Talking to this scribe, Mushtaq Ghani reminded that in fact on the directives of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf Chairman Imran Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on humanitarian grounds initiated steps to delay deportation of Gula to Afghanistan as she needs proper care and treatment. He said that Gula is suffering from Hepatitis, therefore, provincial government approached federal government.
Earlier, Secretary Home and Tribal Affairs Shakeel Qadar assured the Afghan diplomats that provincial government would ensure maximum support and assistance to Sharbat Gula when she is willing to be repatriated to Afghanistan.
