Pakistan Court Protects Sikh Woman After Marriage Harassment Claim

In a significant development that has drawn widespread attention across India and Pakistan, the Lahore High Court has directed police authorities to immediately stop harassing an Indian Sikh woman who converted to Islam and married a Pakistani Muslim man she had known for nearly nine years. The case has stirred emotional, legal, and diplomatic discussions on both sides of the border, especially after her disappearance was initially reported as a possible security concern.

Sikh Pilgrim Stayed Back in Pakistan, Married Man She Met on Facebook

The woman, Sarabjeet Kaur, 48, travelled from India to Pakistan earlier this month as part of a group of around 2,000 Sikh pilgrims who entered through the Wagah border for Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary celebrations. While the pilgrims returned to India on November 13, Kaur did not accompany them, sparking inquiries back home.

It later emerged that Kaur had stayed back in Lahore after deciding to marry Nasir Hussain, a resident of Sheikhupura district, whom she had known on Facebook for nearly a decade. According to police reports, she married Hussain just a day after arriving in Pakistan on November 4.

Couple Accuses Police of “Illegal Raids” and Pressure to End Marriage

On Tuesday, Kaur—who has adopted the Muslim name Noor—and her husband approached the Lahore High Court claiming that a senior police officer had conducted an “illegal raid” on their residence in Farooqabad, Sheikhupura, and allegedly pressured them to dissolve the marriage.

In their petition, the couple alleged that officers harassed them, questioned the legitimacy of their relationship, and attempted to force Kaur to return to India against her will.

Justice Farooq Haider of the Lahore High Court issued a clear directive ordering the police not to intimidate or harass the couple going forward.

“I Married Him Willingly”: Kaur Says in Viral Video

A video circulating on social media shows Kaur stating she had willingly converted to Islam and married Hussain. She said she had been a divorcee in India and had long wished to marry him.

“I am a divorcee and wanted to marry Hussain; therefore, I came here for this purpose,” she said in the clip. “I married him happily, but we are being harassed by police and unknown people.”

She also confirmed that she had already approached the Indian mission regarding her visa extension and her plan to seek Pakistani nationality.

Indian Authorities Investigating Her Disappearance

In India’s Punjab state, police officials confirmed that an inquiry is underway after her family reported her missing when she did not return with the other pilgrims. Reports also suggest that her previous husband has been living abroad for several years. Kaur is a mother of two sons and hails from Amanipur village in Kapurthala district.

Cross-Border Marriage Rekindles Sensitive Debate

This case has revived discussions around cross-border marriages, religious conversion, and the treatment of Indian citizens who remain in Pakistan beyond permitted durations. It has also placed a spotlight on the role of local police and the importance of protecting adult individuals’ right to marry by choice.

The Lahore High Court’s order aims to ensure that Kaur and Hussain can live without intimidation while legal and diplomatic processes unfold. For now, the couple remains in Sheikhupura, awaiting further updates on her visa and citizenship status.