Islamabad, April 11: The Pakistan government on Sunday contacted its high commissioner to India, Mr Shahid Malik, directing him to ensure the recovery of cricketer Shoaib Malik’s passport from the Indian authorities after it was seized by the Indian police when his ex-wife Ayesha Siddiqui
filed a case against him in Hyderabad. The Pakistani cricketer has now divorced Ayesha Siddiqui and is set to marry tennis ace Sania Mirza.
“Interior minister Rehman Malik has contacted the Pakistan high commissioner in India on the phone to get back Shoaib Malik’s passport,” an official statement issued here said. “The Pakistan high commissioner in New Delhi has been directed to take immediate action to get back Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik’s passport, seized by the Indian police,” it added.
Meanwhile, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani are to send separate gifts plus greeting cards to Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza. “The President has also joined the Prime Minister in dispatching the gifts along with greeting cards to the couple,” an official at the presidency said. He said a proposal was under consideration to confer on Sania Mirza a civilian award in the near future to firm up the position that Pakistan stands for promoting peace and establishing people-to-people contact. “The President has issued directives to his principal secretary, Salman Farooqi, to send a gift, salaami (cash) and a greeting card to both Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza,” the official at the presidency said.
Pakistan’s federal minister for population, Firdous Ashiq Awan, will carry these presents as she leaves for Hyderabad on April 14 to participate in the wedding ceremony. It will be an official visit.
Because of security concerns, senior Pakistan Punjab minister Raja Riaz has said that the valima (feast) ceremony would be celebrated at the Governor’s House in Lahore. At the same time, several dozen MPs have expressed their desire to be part of an official delegation that would participate in the marriage ceremony.
Prime Minister Gilani, who wanted a delegation of MPs to visit Hyderabad, thinks it is now impossible to dispatch such a large number of persons in their official capacities due to security clearances and arrangements with India.
Firdous Awan, who belongs to Sialkot, the hometown of Shoaib Malik, and a few others would be visiting and attending the marriage under official arrangements (on India’s invitation) whereas others could proceed in their individual capacities.
“The minister already had a pending invitation from her Indian counterpart and therefore she would have full official protocol in India during her seven-day stay, commencing from the wedding day till April 21,” the officials said.
Shafqat Ali
