Nat Geo’s famed Afghan girl, Sharbat Gula, to be deported to Afghanistan after serving a 15-day jail sentence and paying a fine of Rs.110,000 for holding fake Pakistani documents.
A special anti-corruption and immigration court issued orders after the lady confessed to holding fake Pakistani passport and ID card.
The orders came two days after the same court refused her bail application. The Afghan woman, immortalised on a National Geographic cover, was arrested in Pakistan last week for using fake ID cards.
She was accused of living in the country on fraudulent identity papers following a two-year investigation into her and her husband, who has absconded.
Last month UNHCR said more than 350,000 Afghan refugees — documented and undocumented — had returned from Pakistan so far in 2016, adding it expects a further 450,000 to do so by the year’s end.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr Omar Zakhilwal said on social media that she will be welcomed back home by Afghan President.
“With utmost delight, I announce that Sharbatgula is now free from the legal troubles she endured over the past couple of weeks. She soon will also be free from an uncertain life of a refugee as she will be on her way back to her own country as soon as next Monday where she still is a beloved image and a national icon. She will be met by President Ashraf Ghani upon her arrival to welcome her back home and help her with her resettlement,” he said.
He thanked all for highlighting the issue.
“I take this opportunity to thank all those who voiced their support and sympathy to the case of Sharbatgula. This includes prominent as well as ordinary people within the Government, civil society, Peshawar Court and FIA office, media and the public in large. You all played a significant role resulting in today’s good news,” he said (PhotoNews / Agencies)
