A Kolkata woman who was part of a jatha that visited for Gurpurb “converted and married” a Muslim man at Lahore, Times of India reported.
According to the report, she is married and was apparently accompanied by her Indian husband during the pilgrimage and marriage.
The national newspaper quoting sources reported that the woman, Parminder Kaur (name changed), had crossed the international border from Attari on 17 November to take part in celebrations on the birth anniversary of first Sikh master Guru Nanak Dev. She married Lahore resident Muhammad on 24 November.
Intelligence sources told TOI that before marrying Imran, she embraced Islam and was rechristened as Parveena Sultan after filing a petition in a Lahore court.
A Lahore-based deed writer Rana Sajawal confirmed that the Indian woman, accompanied by two men including a Sikh, had come to purchase an affidavit. He said since the women didn’t have any Pakistani identification, he had issued the document in the name of Imran, a resident of Rajan Pur area. Sources said that Kaur had met Imran on social media and her husband was aware of her ties.
While confirming the incident, SAD (D) president Paramjit Singh Sarna, who is also the former president of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, said the marriage of a Bengali Sikh woman with a Lahore man had brought much embarrassment to the community. “Such acts can even lead to a ban on Sikh pilgrimage to Pakistan,” said Sarna.
He also advised the pilgrims going to Pakistan as part of jathas to restrict themselves to religious activities.
According to sources, Imran wanted to come to India but couldn’t as he didn’t have an Indian visa.
Similarly, Kaur was denied permission to stay in Pakistan, following which, she and her Indian husband arrived at Attari on late Friday evening and reached Kolkata on Saturday. Sources opined that she would apply for Pakistan visa to be with her Muslim husband.
