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.
Indian police question Shoaib Malik, seize passport
Shoaib Malik addresses the media outside Indian tennis player Sania Mirza's home in Hyderabad
KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik was grilled on Monday by Indian police officials in Hyderabad Deccan.
Police interrogated Malik and reportedly seized his passport while he was visiting the house of his prospective wife Sania Mirza.
“The city police have questioned Shoaib Malik for one-and-a-half hours and they have also seized his passport. Immigration authorities have been informed about the case filed against Malik and his passport seizure,” Additional Commissioner of Dwarka Tirumala Rao was quoted as saying by Indian newspaper The Hindu.
Malik has been asked not to leave India while police in Hyderabad investigate the charges, senior police official A.K. Khan said.
In her complaint, filed Sunday, Ayesha Siddique alleged that Malik had 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 interrogate Shoaib, seize his passport
Police on Monday seized the passport of Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik and asked him not to leave the country as they questioned him in the wake of a complaint of cheating lodged by the father of a local girl Ayesha Siddiqui claiming that she was married to him.
29-year-old Ayesha was also questioned by Hyderabad Police which is trying to verify authenticity of the 'nikahnama' cited by the Siddiqui family and that of the photo showing her along with 28-year-old Shoaib, a senior police officer said.
The case has been transferred to Central Crime Station, a wing of the city police, he said, adding that Shoaib has been asked not to leave the country.
Shoaib told a police team this morning at the Jubilee Hills residence of 23-year-old tennis star Sania Mirza that he had been tricked into marriage with Ayesha.
"The city police questioned Shoaib Malik for one-and-a-half hours and they have also seized his passport. Immigration authorities have been informed about the case filed against Malik and his passport seizure," Additional Commissioner of Police (Coordination) Dwarka Tirumala Rao said.
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Rao said, "As part of the investigation, a police team visited Sania's residence today. We are probing the matter."
The team reached this morning the posh Jubilee Hill residence of Sania where Shoaib has been staying since his arrival here on Saturday following a complaint lodged by the father of Ayesha, Mohammed Siddiqui yesterday at the Banjara Hill police station.
Sania and Shoaib are scheduled to get married here on April 15.
"We are trying to collect evidence. Shoaib is cooperating and Sania is supporting him. They say they know the truth behind the whole issue," a police official said after the team talked to the cricketer.
During questioning, Shoaib told the police that he had been "cheated" by the Siddiqui family and tricked into marriage, he said.
The Pakistani cricketer had yesterday claimed that he was emotionally forced into the 'nikahnama' with the Hyderabad girl but said the marriage was invalid as her family had cheated him and ruled out divorce.
He said to this day he has not met the girl whose photographs were sent to him by the Siddiqui family purported to be that of Ayesha.
The charges against Shoaib are that of harassment of Ayesha, cheating to marry another girl and criminal intimidation including threats to her to keep quiet, according to Hyderabad Police Commissioner A K Khan. Ayesha's father in his complaint, which was lodged hours after Shoaib yesterday confirmed his marriage with Sania, had accused the Pakistani cricketer of cheating his daughter.
The Banjara Hills police said that a case under Sections 420 (cheating), 498-A (dowry harassment) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC has been registered against Shoaib and they will take up the investigation after verifying facts of the complaint.
Khan said an FIR has been made out and it would be followed by collection of evidence and taking legal advice since Shoaib is a Pakistani national.
"The Banjara Hills police have received a complaint by Ayesha Siddiqui against Shoaib Malik. We have registered a case against Shoaib. Now we will take legal opinion quickly before taking further action," Rao had said.
He said there were some legal complications involved in the case and they "will have to examine whether a foreigner committing an offence on a foreign soil comes under the purview of IPC or not".
"The legal opinion will be taken quickly and we will proceed further as the marriage is on April 15," he added.
Criminal case booked against Shoaib Malik
HYDERABAD: The city police on Sunday booked a criminal case against Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik. The case under Sections 420 (cheating), 498-A (harassment) and 506 (criminal intimidation) were booked against Shoaib based on a complaint lodged by Ayesha Siddiqui, who claimed to have married the cricketer.
“As there are legal complications in the case, we are taking the opinion of legal experts for initiating quick action against Malik,” said Additional Commissioner of Police (Co-ordination) Dwaraka Tirumal Rao.
In the complaint, Ayesha alleged that Shoaib was threatening her to accept before the media that she was not married to him. She said Shoaib had married her but now claimed he did not, in order to marry tennis player Sania Mirza. Ayesha's father Mohammed Siddiqui lodged the complaint at Banjara Hills police station on behalf of his daughter.
The Additional Commissioner said: “If an Indian commits an offence abroad also, he is liable for punishment under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). In this case, the offence was committed out of India by a foreigner. So we are taking legal opinion for necessary action.”
“As there are legal complications in the case, we are taking the opinion of legal experts for initiating quick action against Malik,” said Additional Commissioner of Police (Co-ordination) Dwaraka Tirumal Rao.
In the complaint, Ayesha alleged that Shoaib was threatening her to accept before the media that she was not married to him. She said Shoaib had married her but now claimed he did not, in order to marry tennis player Sania Mirza. Ayesha's father Mohammed Siddiqui lodged the complaint at Banjara Hills police station on behalf of his daughter.
The Additional Commissioner said: “If an Indian commits an offence abroad also, he is liable for punishment under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). In this case, the offence was committed out of India by a foreigner. So we are taking legal opinion for necessary action.”
Shoaib Malik may be prevented from leaving India
Hyderabad: Former Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik, against whom ‘first wife’ Ayesha Siddiqui filed a complaint on Sunday, may not be allowed to leave India.
Hours after the complaint was registered at the Banjara Hills police station, charging the cricketer with harassment and cheating, Hyderabad police chief AK Khan said all international airports in the country have been alerted about the criminal plaint. This could block Malik’s exit from India.
Earlier in the day, Ayesha had alleged that she was offered $1 million to declare in front of the media that she didn’t have a relationship with Malik. She further accused Malik of frequently calling her and asking her to stay tightlipped on the issue. The complaint also mentioned Malik’s brother-in-law, Imran Zafar.
The police have registered a case against Malik under sections 498-A (subjecting a woman to cruelty by husband or relative of the husband), 420 (cheating), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
"We are seeking legal opinion on arresting Shoaib Malik or even confiscating his passport since he is a foreign national,” additional police commissioner D Tirumala Rao said.
A senior criminal lawyer said, “If the police are registering the case under section 498A, it means they are convinced that Malik is the complainant’s husband. Slapping this section is likely to trigger a major controversy.”
Another senior criminal lawyer told DNA that all these sections are cognisable. “If the police find any prima facie evidence as per the complaint, the accused would be arrested immediately. But it all depends on the officers handling the case. There are always exceptions,” he said.
Malik has the option of seeking anticipatory bail as a foreign national. “He can claim relief since the complaint is registered here. Since the accused is a foreign national, the police have to follow a certain procedure,” the lawyer said.
What is interesting, however, is the timing of the complaint. The court is not functioning on Monday for Malik to seek anticipatory bail.
Malik is set to marry tennis star Sania Mirza on April 15, but the Siddiquis want the cricketer to officially divorce Ayesha before that.
Malik has said he never saw the Ayesha shown to him in photographs and also dismissed the nikahnama with his signature produced by the Siddiquis.
A source close to Malik told DNA that he is determined to get out of this mess. “The families of Malik and Mirza have consulted Islamic scholars on the validity of the nikahnama. Malik has even hired a lawyer to argue his case.
"It looks like he is confident of going ahead with the wedding and getting over the dispute,” the source said.
Malik said Islamic scholars maintain that a telephone nikah is invalid. He quoted Mohammed Khader Ali, sadar qazi (chief qazi) of Hyderabad and president of the Andhra Pradesh Association for Qazis, and Muslim law to prove that his alleged marriage to Ayesha was not valid.
But a four-cleric bench of the Darul Iftah Jamiat-ul-Mominat issued a fatwa on Sunday declaring a telephone nikah valid. The fatwa was issued by a male and three female clerics with mufti Mastan Ali Qadri’s signature.
The religious seminary has produced the highest number of female clerics in the country.
Hours after the complaint was registered at the Banjara Hills police station, charging the cricketer with harassment and cheating, Hyderabad police chief AK Khan said all international airports in the country have been alerted about the criminal plaint. This could block Malik’s exit from India.
Earlier in the day, Ayesha had alleged that she was offered $1 million to declare in front of the media that she didn’t have a relationship with Malik. She further accused Malik of frequently calling her and asking her to stay tightlipped on the issue. The complaint also mentioned Malik’s brother-in-law, Imran Zafar.
The police have registered a case against Malik under sections 498-A (subjecting a woman to cruelty by husband or relative of the husband), 420 (cheating), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
"We are seeking legal opinion on arresting Shoaib Malik or even confiscating his passport since he is a foreign national,” additional police commissioner D Tirumala Rao said.
A senior criminal lawyer said, “If the police are registering the case under section 498A, it means they are convinced that Malik is the complainant’s husband. Slapping this section is likely to trigger a major controversy.”
Another senior criminal lawyer told DNA that all these sections are cognisable. “If the police find any prima facie evidence as per the complaint, the accused would be arrested immediately. But it all depends on the officers handling the case. There are always exceptions,” he said.
Malik has the option of seeking anticipatory bail as a foreign national. “He can claim relief since the complaint is registered here. Since the accused is a foreign national, the police have to follow a certain procedure,” the lawyer said.
What is interesting, however, is the timing of the complaint. The court is not functioning on Monday for Malik to seek anticipatory bail.
Malik is set to marry tennis star Sania Mirza on April 15, but the Siddiquis want the cricketer to officially divorce Ayesha before that.
Malik has said he never saw the Ayesha shown to him in photographs and also dismissed the nikahnama with his signature produced by the Siddiquis.
A source close to Malik told DNA that he is determined to get out of this mess. “The families of Malik and Mirza have consulted Islamic scholars on the validity of the nikahnama. Malik has even hired a lawyer to argue his case.
"It looks like he is confident of going ahead with the wedding and getting over the dispute,” the source said.
Malik said Islamic scholars maintain that a telephone nikah is invalid. He quoted Mohammed Khader Ali, sadar qazi (chief qazi) of Hyderabad and president of the Andhra Pradesh Association for Qazis, and Muslim law to prove that his alleged marriage to Ayesha was not valid.
But a four-cleric bench of the Darul Iftah Jamiat-ul-Mominat issued a fatwa on Sunday declaring a telephone nikah valid. The fatwa was issued by a male and three female clerics with mufti Mastan Ali Qadri’s signature.
The religious seminary has produced the highest number of female clerics in the country.
Shoaib questioned by Indian police over 'marriage' allegations
HYDERABAD (India): Police have questioned ex-Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik ahead of his planned marriage to Indian tennis star Sania Mirza regarding allegations made by another woman claiming to be the cricket player’s first wife.
Malik has been asked not to leave India while police in Hyderabad investigate the charges, senior police official A.K. Khan said Monday.
In her complaint, filed Sunday, Ayesha Siddique alleged that Malik had 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.
Malik and Siddique had reportedly developed a friendship on the Internet.
Malik said in a written statement on Sunday that he had married a girl named Ayesha over the telephone phone 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, last week from Pakistan to work out arrangements for his wedding to the tennis star, which is scheduled to take place April 15.
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 instant news coverage in the region because neighbouring Pakistan and India are long-time rivals, and have fought three wars since their independence from Britain in 1947.
Police visited the home of Mirza in Hyderabad, the capital of southern Andhra Pradesh state, where Malik is staying and recorded his statement on Monday, Stephan Ravindra, a deputy commissioner of police said.
Police are investigating complaints of criminal intimidation, cheating, fraud and harassment for dowry against the Pakistani cricketer, Ravindra told The Associated Press. Police also questioned the complainant, Siddique.
Siddique claims to have a copy of “Nikahnama” or a marriage certificate issued by the Pakistani authorities in Malik’s hometown Sialkot in June 2002. It carries the signature of Shoaib Malik as well as those of two witnesses.
Malik has been banned from representing Pakistan for a year due to infighting within the team during a disastrous tour of Australia this year. - AP
Malik has been asked not to leave India while police in Hyderabad investigate the charges, senior police official A.K. Khan said Monday.
In her complaint, filed Sunday, Ayesha Siddique alleged that Malik had 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.
Malik and Siddique had reportedly developed a friendship on the Internet.
Malik said in a written statement on Sunday that he had married a girl named Ayesha over the telephone phone 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, last week from Pakistan to work out arrangements for his wedding to the tennis star, which is scheduled to take place April 15.
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 instant news coverage in the region because neighbouring Pakistan and India are long-time rivals, and have fought three wars since their independence from Britain in 1947.
Police visited the home of Mirza in Hyderabad, the capital of southern Andhra Pradesh state, where Malik is staying and recorded his statement on Monday, Stephan Ravindra, a deputy commissioner of police said.
Police are investigating complaints of criminal intimidation, cheating, fraud and harassment for dowry against the Pakistani cricketer, Ravindra told The Associated Press. Police also questioned the complainant, Siddique.
Siddique claims to have a copy of “Nikahnama” or a marriage certificate issued by the Pakistani authorities in Malik’s hometown Sialkot in June 2002. It carries the signature of Shoaib Malik as well as those of two witnesses.
Malik has been banned from representing Pakistan for a year due to infighting within the team during a disastrous tour of Australia this year. - AP
Police interrogate Shoaib, seize his passport
Police on Monday seized the passport of Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik and asked him not to leave the country as they questioned him in the wake of a complaint of cheating lodged by the father of a local girl Ayesha Siddiqui claiming that she was married to him.
29-year-old Ayesha was also questioned by Hyderabad Police which is trying to verify authenticity of the 'nikahnama' cited by the Siddiqui family and that of the photo showing her along with 28-year-old Shoaib, a senior police officer said.
The case has been transferred to Central Crime Station, a wing of the city police, he said, adding that Shoaib has been asked not to leave the country.
Shoaib told a police team this morning at the Jubilee Hills residence of 23-year-old tennis star Sania Mirza that he had been tricked into marriage with Ayesha.
"The city police questioned Shoaib Malik for one-and-a-half hours and they have also seized his passport. Immigration authorities have been informed about the case filed against Malik and his passport seizure," Additional Commissioner of Police (Coordination) Dwarka Tirumala Rao said.
Cheating case against Shoaib Malik
The controversy over the alleged first marriage of Shoaib Malik [ Images ] with Hyderabadi girl Ayesha Siddiqui took yet another turn on Sunday with the Banjara Hills police station in Hyderabad registering a cheating case against the Pakistan cricketer.
Police said the case was registered on a complaint by Ahmad Siddiqui that Shoaib had cheated his daughter Ayesha Siddiqui alias Maha Siddiqui.
In his complaint Siddiqui said Shoaib had married his daughter on June 3 2002 over telephone from Pakistan but later deserted her. He enclosed a copy of the Nikahnama (marriage certificate) issued by the authorities in Pakistan.
Siddiqui, who was earlier based in Jeddah Saudi Arabia, alleged that Shoaib is now threatening him.
The Siddiquis lodged the complaint soon after Shoaib admitted, in a written statement, that he had married a girl Ayesha over phone but she was different from the Ayesha Siddiqui who is now claiming to be his wife. He made a counter allegation that Ayesha had cheated him by sending him photos of another girl who was already married.
Shoaib is due to marry Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza on April 15.
Police said the case was registered on a complaint by Ahmad Siddiqui that Shoaib had cheated his daughter Ayesha Siddiqui alias Maha Siddiqui.
In his complaint Siddiqui said Shoaib had married his daughter on June 3 2002 over telephone from Pakistan but later deserted her. He enclosed a copy of the Nikahnama (marriage certificate) issued by the authorities in Pakistan.
Siddiqui, who was earlier based in Jeddah Saudi Arabia, alleged that Shoaib is now threatening him.
The Siddiquis lodged the complaint soon after Shoaib admitted, in a written statement, that he had married a girl Ayesha over phone but she was different from the Ayesha Siddiqui who is now claiming to be his wife. He made a counter allegation that Ayesha had cheated him by sending him photos of another girl who was already married.
Shoaib is due to marry Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza on April 15.
I was fooled, shown wrong photo, cheated: Shoaib Malik
Hyderabad: I want to clarify a few wrongly reported facts about me in some sections of the media, newspapers and television channels in India and Pakistan. I want to make my position clear especially because I am to wed Sania Mirza in the near future.
Ayesha first started calling me on the telephone when I was in Sharjah with the Pakistani cricket team in 2001. She said she was living in Saudi Arabia. Every time I brought up the topic of meeting her, she would send me a bunch of photographs. The truth is, I haven’t to this day met the girl in the photographs.
In 2002, I came to Hyderabad specifically to meet Ayesha. Just before I left Pakistan, she told me she had to rush to Saudi Arabia on urgent work and her cousins — Reema and Maha apa (meaning older sister) — would take me around. I asked her family where she was and they said that in the last year she had put on a lot of weight because of which she did not want to meet me until she could shed some of that. I told them I had photographs of her and that she wasn’t fat, but they told me those were older photographs.
Ayesha wanted us to get married. In 2002, she told me that people in Hyderabad were talking about our relationship and it was putting her parents in an embarrassing position. She wanted us to have a telephone nikah to stop the talk. I was only 20 then. There was a lot of pressure. I called her from a friend’s shop in 2002. I got a nikahnama signed thinking the girl I was marrying was the one in the photographs.
A year or so later, I travelled to Hyderabad in the hope of meeting
her, but once again it was the same story.
In 2004, my brother-in-law travelled to Hyderabad to meet Ayesha and her family and again the same story was repeated. Later that year, I was in Hyderabad with the Pakistani cricket team. Mr MA Siddiqui invited the team to his house for dinner. I was hoping to meet Ayesha, but the same story was told to me.
In a practice game, the next day, I won the man of the match award. Later, I said that I was happy this was happening in my wife’s city.
We accidentally ran into the truth about who Ayesha was. It was the worst moment of my life. No one enjoys being made a fool of and that was exactly how I was made to look. It happened in August 2005. My brother-in-law got a photograph of a teacher in Saudi Arabia, who was telling people around her that she was married to me. His nephews were studying in that school. I was aghast when he showed me the photograph of the teacher; the woman in it was the person I called Maha apa. I told Ayesha I was going to release the photographs she had been mailing me to the media. She apologised and told me that the other girl was married and that I would ruin her life if I released those pictures.
In 2008, my lawyer sent a legal notice to Mr MA Siddiqui. After that, he stopped making false allegations, until of course, news of my marriage to Sania Mirza became public.
Now, they are asking for a divorce. To begin with, there was no nikah because they pressured me into it, with the intention to cheat. In Islam, there can only be a divorce if the nikah is valid.
This is the opinion of Mohammed Khader Ali, Sadar Qazi (chief Qazi) of Hyderabad and president of the Andhra Pradesh Association of Qazis on nikah and the Muslim law: Firstly, in Muslim law, it is about the process, procedure, there can be no tampering with that. Secondly, meher (dower or a specified sum of money), two witnesses (one from the bride’s and one from the groom’s side), vakhil (guardian of the bride) and finally the bride and groom, all these parties have to sign the nikahnama at the time of the nikah.
Ayesha first started calling me on the telephone when I was in Sharjah with the Pakistani cricket team in 2001. She said she was living in Saudi Arabia. Every time I brought up the topic of meeting her, she would send me a bunch of photographs. The truth is, I haven’t to this day met the girl in the photographs.
In 2002, I came to Hyderabad specifically to meet Ayesha. Just before I left Pakistan, she told me she had to rush to Saudi Arabia on urgent work and her cousins — Reema and Maha apa (meaning older sister) — would take me around. I asked her family where she was and they said that in the last year she had put on a lot of weight because of which she did not want to meet me until she could shed some of that. I told them I had photographs of her and that she wasn’t fat, but they told me those were older photographs.
Ayesha wanted us to get married. In 2002, she told me that people in Hyderabad were talking about our relationship and it was putting her parents in an embarrassing position. She wanted us to have a telephone nikah to stop the talk. I was only 20 then. There was a lot of pressure. I called her from a friend’s shop in 2002. I got a nikahnama signed thinking the girl I was marrying was the one in the photographs.
A year or so later, I travelled to Hyderabad in the hope of meeting
her, but once again it was the same story.
In 2004, my brother-in-law travelled to Hyderabad to meet Ayesha and her family and again the same story was repeated. Later that year, I was in Hyderabad with the Pakistani cricket team. Mr MA Siddiqui invited the team to his house for dinner. I was hoping to meet Ayesha, but the same story was told to me.
In a practice game, the next day, I won the man of the match award. Later, I said that I was happy this was happening in my wife’s city.
We accidentally ran into the truth about who Ayesha was. It was the worst moment of my life. No one enjoys being made a fool of and that was exactly how I was made to look. It happened in August 2005. My brother-in-law got a photograph of a teacher in Saudi Arabia, who was telling people around her that she was married to me. His nephews were studying in that school. I was aghast when he showed me the photograph of the teacher; the woman in it was the person I called Maha apa. I told Ayesha I was going to release the photographs she had been mailing me to the media. She apologised and told me that the other girl was married and that I would ruin her life if I released those pictures.
In 2008, my lawyer sent a legal notice to Mr MA Siddiqui. After that, he stopped making false allegations, until of course, news of my marriage to Sania Mirza became public.
Now, they are asking for a divorce. To begin with, there was no nikah because they pressured me into it, with the intention to cheat. In Islam, there can only be a divorce if the nikah is valid.
This is the opinion of Mohammed Khader Ali, Sadar Qazi (chief Qazi) of Hyderabad and president of the Andhra Pradesh Association of Qazis on nikah and the Muslim law: Firstly, in Muslim law, it is about the process, procedure, there can be no tampering with that. Secondly, meher (dower or a specified sum of money), two witnesses (one from the bride’s and one from the groom’s side), vakhil (guardian of the bride) and finally the bride and groom, all these parties have to sign the nikahnama at the time of the nikah.
Bring your bride home, Afridi to Malik
Lahore: Pakistan`s Twenty20 cricket captain Shahid Afridi today hoped that his beleaguered teammate Shoaib Malik would tide over the legal storm caused by a past affair gone wrong and bring his bride home.
"Since he has gone to India he must now bring his bride home," Afridi said.
Malik is in a legal mess in Hyderabad after his alleged first wife Ayesha Siddiqui filed an FIR against him for trying to marry Indian tennis star Sania Mirza without taking a formal divorce.
Shoaib`s passport has been seized and the Hyderabad police questioned him for close to two hours today.
Afridi, who is dealing with his own share of problems after being slapped with a Rs three million fine by the Pakistan Cricket Board for indiscipline and ball-tampering, said he would not be hiring a lawyer to fight his case or file an appeal against the punishment.
"I don`t want to make an issue of this fine and I will try to resolve it myself. I don`t want to get involved in hiring any lawyer as it will only complicate matters," he said.
The Pakistani captain said he had only asked the board to clarify how they could fine him for an offence for which he had already got punishment from the ICC match referee.
"If I am satisfied with their answer I will not pursue this case any further," he said.
"The board has taken its decision, some players have been banned and some have been fined but I have told the players they must get over this phase and focus on doing well in the Twenty20 World Cup where we have to defend our title," Afridi added.
He also rejected suggestions that the punishments handed out to the players would have a negative effect on their performance.
"We are all professionals and we are supposed to perform for our country and we need to overcome these pressures and fight on," he said.
Pakistan to fully back Shoaib Malik: Foreign office
Islamabad/Hyderabad, April 5 (IANS) Pakistan said 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 has demanded 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.
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