Post by : Rameen Ariff

Chandigarh: Sarabjit Kaur, a 52-year-old Indian Sikh woman from Kapurthala, Punjab, has allegedly converted to Islam and married a Pakistani man following her recent disappearance during a religious journey, as revealed by newly emerged documents.

Kaur embarked on a pilgrimage to Pakistan on November 4 with 1,992 fellow Sikh pilgrims to honor the 555th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. While the group returned to India on November 13 after a 10-day pilgrimage, Kaur was notably absent.

An Islamic marriage contract, or 'nikahnama,' written in Urdu specifies that Kaur married Nasir Hussain, a resident of Sheikhupura, approximately 56 km from Lahore. This documentation implies that she adopted the name "Noor" after converting to Islam before her marriage. Verification of these documents remains pending.

Sarabjit Kaur, who has two sons with her ex-husband, Karnail Singh, is divorced and has been living away from him, who has settled in England for nearly three decades. Although her passport was issued in Muktsar, Punjab, records indicate a lack of immigration entries or exits that confirm her return to India.

Upon noticing Kaur’s absence, the Indian Immigration Department swiftly notified the Punjab Police, which has submitted an initial report to relevant authorities. Coordination efforts between Indian officials and their Pakistani counterparts are currently underway to probe her disappearance.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which organizes pilgrimages to significant Sikh sites in Pakistan annually, particularly during Guru Nanak’s Prakash Parv, had previously postponed this year's trip due to security anxieties. Ultimately, the 10-day pilgrimage to Nankana Sahib proceeded successfully.

The circumstances surrounding Kaur’s conversion and disappearance have drawn considerable media attention and raised alarms regarding the safety of Indian pilgrims traveling to Pakistan for religious observances.

As inquiries continue, officials are focusing on authenticating the marriage documents and uncovering the reasons that led Kaur to remain in Pakistan.

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