[caption id="attachment_117561" align="aligncenter" width="565"]
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Deputy High Commissioner to Pakistan J P Singh accompanying Indian woman Uzma who addresses press at Jawahar Bhawan in New Delhi on Thursday. PTI Photo [/caption]
New Delhi, May 25 (IANS): “Pakistan is like a well of death”, said Uzma Ahmed, the Indian woman repatriated to the country from Pakistan where she was allegedly forced and duped into marrying against her choice.
“I am an orphan. I am an adopted child and have nobody,” Uzma told reporters here, hours after she crossed into India through the Wagah border, a day after the Islamabad High Court permitted her to travel home.
The woman broke down several times, sharing with the media her ordeal of living in Pakistan where “it is easy to go, but tough to return”. Uzma said she was not the only woman duped into marry a man from Buner.
She thanked the government of India, particularly External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for making her return possible and making her realize “the value of my life as an Indian citizen”.
“I am proud to be an Indian citizen. Sushma madam would call me every day to say we are fighting for you, you are our daughter, you are India’s daughter,” she said, recounting the days she spent at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
Uzma travelled to Lahore from Islamabad and was accompanied by Indian Deputy High Commissioner J.P. Singh. She stayed in Pakistan for 25 days. Near the Wagah border she was escorted by Pakistani security personnel. She prostrated and kissed the ground as soon as she entered Indian territory.
