ISLAMABAD/HYDERABAD: Pakistan said on Monday it would fully back cricketer Shoaib Malik as he contests cheating charges by Ayesha Siddiqui, a
resident of Hyderabad in India, who claims to be his first wife and hasdemanded a divorce before he weds Indian tennis star Sania Mirza.
Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit told reporters that the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi was in touch with the Indian authorities and had asked for details about the First Information Report (FIR) the Hyderabad police filed against Malik on Sunday following Ayesha's complaint.
"We will have to wait till the details of the FIR are with us," Basit added.
The Hyderabad police Monday seized Malik's passport after questioning him for nearly two hours at Sania Mirza's home on Ayesha's complaint.
Shoaib was unhappy that his passport had been seized and said he would complain to the Pakistan High Commission, police sources said. He was questioned at Sania's Jubilee Hills home.
Assistant Commissioner of Police R. Ravinder Reddy told reporters after the questioning that the case was under investigation but refused to answer any queries. Another team of police officials recorded Ayesha's statement at her residence in Banjara Hills. She handed over the 'nikahnama', or marriage document, which has been sent to the forensic laboratory to verify Shoaib's signature.
Police posed several questions to Ayesha and her parents regarding her complaint. She reportedly gave details of Shoaib's stay in Hyderabad during his visits after the marriage.
Shoaib, who landed in Hyderabad Friday, has been staying at Sania's house in preparation for their April 15 wedding. Since Ayesha's charges of cheating, dowry harassment and criminal intimidation are serious and non-bailable, the police Sunday night alerted all airports to prevent Shoaib from leaving India.
She alleged that Shoaib had offered her $1 million to keep mum about their marriage. She also stated that he threatened her to not speak to the media.
The FIR has been booked under sections 498 A (harassment), 420 (cheating) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. Section 498 A also relates to cruelty against married women.
A senior police officer said they were also taking legal opinion on the complaint against Shoaib as it involved a foreigner and the crimes might have been committed by him abroad. The police may also have to take permission from the union home ministry before arresting Shoaib.
Shoaib had Sunday denied marrying Ayesha saying he signed a 'nikahnama' for marrying a girl whose photographs she had been sending him.
If you were Sania, would you marry Shoaib?
Sania Mirza is known for her strong two-handed backhand, but this time, she’s served up an ace. And this isn’t on the tennis court. Her announced marriage with the controversial offbreak bowler and former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik, is a doosra deal altogether! It’s hardly been a few months — January 28, to be precise — since her family announced that they had called off her engagement to childhood buddy Sohrab Mirza. The decision was reported to be mutual, with Sania citing “incompatibility” as the reason for the split. Now it seems things are headed firmly down the aisle between Shoaib and Sania.
Despite the front page headlines he is grabbing in India and Pakistan for already being married and that, too, to an Indian girl from Hyderabad. Several questions are doing the rounds. Like, firstly, why is Sania Mirza, who is just 24, in such a tearing hurry to marry this man? It isn’t as if he is the most eligible bachelor around. And, it’s not even certain if he is a bachelor! Given the couple met and fell in love, yet why the rush to marry, why not wait for a couple of months until this grand parade of skeletons from Shoaib’s closet has ended? Or his divorce, if he is married, comes through? Second, Shoaib is no Imran Khan — the lionhearted Pathan was one of the world’s most eligible in his time, and a real bachelor until he got married at 43 — whereas Shoaib, at 28, is terribly immature as can be seen from the silly interviews he is giving about his alleged marriage and first wife Ayesha. So what’s Sania’s hurry? She can’t be so madly in love with Shoaib that she’s willing to overlook all these controversies and risk being the second wife of a man who, well, is painted both sides of the border as being something of a rat! Is it on the rebound? Or is it because Sania’s in the autumn of her tennis career, so to speak?
We put Shoaib’s case before several single Mumbai hotties and asked the question, “If you were Sania Mirza would you marry Shoaib Malik?” Shenaz Treasuryvala probably wouldn’t have made this move to matrimony, but on the flip side, she adds, “But then who knows what I’d do if I fell passionately, madly, hopelessly in love? It’s her personal decision, really, none of anybody’s business. As long as she keeps representing India how does it matter who she falls in love with and marries?”
Upcoming actress Sonal Chauhan doesn’t agree, she believes, “I think its ones personal call and depends on what transpires between two individuals.” But the bold and beautiful Neetu Chandra is all for it. “Of course! Why not?” she asks, and goes on to explain: “Sania and Shoaib are from sports backgrounds so their chemistry would be great. They both look beautiful together and the bottom line is if they like each other, there should not be any hassle.”
Payal Rohatgi feels that marriage would be awkward. “Sania is a star so obviously skeletons will emerge when she decides to marry. But I hope there is honesty between the couple as they have to live with each other.” Hyderabad girl Sherlyn Chopra has no problems about the idea of this kind of marriage, but gives it a different spin: “Everybody has a past. And everybody has the right to have a great future. If I were Sania and truly, madly and deeply in love with Shoaib, I would not have been judgmental about his past. However, if he has a wife already, common sense would suggest he terminate his first marriage legally and start a brand new chapter in his life.”
Nauheed Cyrusi is an idealist, and doesn’t know if she would have done the same. But says, “They’re obviously in love. And the sheer beauty of love is you don’t bring religion, countries in the way!” A view echoed by singer Anaida, who adds, “When it comes to marriage I think only the two people in love know how they feel. Maybe I’m an idealist but I dream of a world that’s one and cast, country and religion are no excuse for division.” Nethra Raghuraman would have done the same, marry him that is, because “Love does have no boundaries. I find it really endearing and adorable that their love surpasses geography. All I can see are two people, in love, deciding to embark on a journey together.”
Police question Shoaib Malik over plans to marry Sania Mirza
• 'First wife' makes allegations against Pakistan cricketer
• Malik gives statement to police about complaints
Shoaib Malik addresses the media outside his fiancee Sania Mirza's home before being questioned by police.
Indian police in Hyderabad have questioned the former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik about his planned marriage to India's highest-ever ranked female tennis player Sania Mirza over allegations made by a woman claiming to be the cricketer's first wife.
Malik has been asked not to leave India while police in Hyderabad investigate the charges, AK Khan, a senior police official, said this morning.
In her complaint, filed yesterday, Ayesha Siddique alleged that Malik married her in June 2002 and she accused him of subjecting her to cruelty and harassment by denying that the wedding took place and by trying to marry another woman.
Police visited the home of Mirza in Hyderabad, the capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh, where Malik is staying and took down a statement this morning, Stephan Ravindra, a deputy commissioner of police said.
Police are investigating complaints of criminal intimidation, cheating, fraud and harassment for dowry against the Pakistan cricketer, Ravindra said. Police also questioned the complainant, Siddique.
Malik and Siddique had reportedly developed a friendship on the internet.
Malik, who has been banned from representing Pakistan for a year because of reports of infighting within the team during the tour of Australia at the beginning of the year, said in a written statement on Sunday that he had married a girl named Ayesha over the telephone in June 2002 and signed a marriage certificate but he believed he had been deceived by another woman claiming to be Ayesha Siddique.
He arrived in Hyderabad, Mirza's hometown, from Pakistan last week to finalise arrangements for his wedding to the tennis player, which is scheduled to take place on 15 April. Mirza broke off a previous engagement earlier this year before announcing her plans to marry Malik.
The news of the Malik-Mirza wedding plans sparked blanket coverage on the subcontinent because of the longstanding tension between Pakistan and India.
Siddique claims to have a copy of "Nikahnama" or a marriage certificate issued by the Pakistan authorities in Malik's hometown Sialkot in June 2002. It carries the signature of Shoaib Malik as well as those of two witnesses.
Farooq Hasan, a lawyer representing Siddique in Pakistan, told reporters in Lahore that he will soon be filing case against Malik in Pakistan's civil and criminal courts.
"We will also try to stop Malik's marriage with Sania Mirza," Hasan said. "If the courts in Pakistan asked, Ayesha Siddique will also travel to Pakistan and appear before the courts.
"The courts in Pakistan will decide about the authentication of Nikahnama." Hasan said that he had received initial documents from the Siddique family and wouild file the case on the basis of that evidence.
• Malik gives statement to police about complaints
Shoaib Malik addresses the media outside his fiancee Sania Mirza's home before being questioned by police.
Indian police in Hyderabad have questioned the former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik about his planned marriage to India's highest-ever ranked female tennis player Sania Mirza over allegations made by a woman claiming to be the cricketer's first wife.
Malik has been asked not to leave India while police in Hyderabad investigate the charges, AK Khan, a senior police official, said this morning.
In her complaint, filed yesterday, Ayesha Siddique alleged that Malik married her in June 2002 and she accused him of subjecting her to cruelty and harassment by denying that the wedding took place and by trying to marry another woman.
Police visited the home of Mirza in Hyderabad, the capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh, where Malik is staying and took down a statement this morning, Stephan Ravindra, a deputy commissioner of police said.
Police are investigating complaints of criminal intimidation, cheating, fraud and harassment for dowry against the Pakistan cricketer, Ravindra said. Police also questioned the complainant, Siddique.
Malik and Siddique had reportedly developed a friendship on the internet.
Malik, who has been banned from representing Pakistan for a year because of reports of infighting within the team during the tour of Australia at the beginning of the year, said in a written statement on Sunday that he had married a girl named Ayesha over the telephone in June 2002 and signed a marriage certificate but he believed he had been deceived by another woman claiming to be Ayesha Siddique.
He arrived in Hyderabad, Mirza's hometown, from Pakistan last week to finalise arrangements for his wedding to the tennis player, which is scheduled to take place on 15 April. Mirza broke off a previous engagement earlier this year before announcing her plans to marry Malik.
The news of the Malik-Mirza wedding plans sparked blanket coverage on the subcontinent because of the longstanding tension between Pakistan and India.
Siddique claims to have a copy of "Nikahnama" or a marriage certificate issued by the Pakistan authorities in Malik's hometown Sialkot in June 2002. It carries the signature of Shoaib Malik as well as those of two witnesses.
Farooq Hasan, a lawyer representing Siddique in Pakistan, told reporters in Lahore that he will soon be filing case against Malik in Pakistan's civil and criminal courts.
"We will also try to stop Malik's marriage with Sania Mirza," Hasan said. "If the courts in Pakistan asked, Ayesha Siddique will also travel to Pakistan and appear before the courts.
"The courts in Pakistan will decide about the authentication of Nikahnama." Hasan said that he had received initial documents from the Siddique family and wouild file the case on the basis of that evidence.
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