Nawaj Sharif welcomes impending wedding of Shoaib-Sania

Islamabad: Pakistani political leaders, including former premier Nawaz Sharif, today welcomed the impending wedding of cricketer Shoaib Malik and Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, saying it could pave the way for better relations between the two countries.

Sharif, who heads the main opposition PML-N, expressed joy over the news of Shoaib and Sania getting married, saying he was happy for them.

He told a TV news channel that "political issues too could be resolved with a similar positive approach".

Several parliamentarians hailed the engagement and said it could help pave the way for improved relations between the two countries.

The lawmakers, while speaking to the media outside parliament, congratulated Shoaib and Sania and conveyed their best wishes to the families of the couple.

Senior Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Haider Abbas Rizvi described the engagement as a "good symbol" for Pakistan and India.

Expressing the hope that the marriage would help bridge differences between the two neighbours, he said Pakistanis would welcome Sania to their country.

Pakistan People`s Party lawmaker Palwasha Khan appreciated Sania and Shoaib`s engagement and congratulated their families.

She said their impending marriage is a good symbol but some important issues still remaining unresolved with India. Khan expressed the hope that the Indian government would show seriousness in resolving the Kashmir dispute and differences over the sharing of river waters.

North West Frontier Province Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain too said he was pleased to hear the news of Shoaib and Sania`s plans to get married.

"Like others, we are also happy about this wedding," he told the media.

However, Minister of State for Information Samsam Ali Bokhari said the media is devoting too much time to the coverage of the engagement, which was a "routine matter".

PTI

India, Pakistan artists stake it all; give love a chance

Islamabad: Though the Sania Mirza-Shoaib Malik wedding is the cynosure of all eyes, much as the Reena Roy-Mohsin Khan, art seems to be bridging the Indo-Pakistan divide with about half a dozen artists finding love across the border despite all odds.

Even when cross-border tensions were peaking in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks, artists committed "the act of insanity" and crossed over the border, giving love a chance.

The sailing has already smooth for Sania and Shoaib, who had little trouble getting visas unlike many others who had to run from pillar to post to get visas or to enable their spouses (usually husbands) to visit their respective countries.

A famous Pakistani artist who found her soulmate in India, said, "Me marrying an Indian or him marrying a Pakistani is an act of courage and of huge historical relevance much more important than any ministerial exchange, wouldn`t you think?"

Sana Khan (name changed), who married a reputed artist from eastern India, sees her husband and herself as "cultural ambassadors".

She pointed out: "This is potentially an interesting trend in future relations."

Sania and Shoaib will perhaps never be able to articulate the significance of such marriages like Khan.

Khan`s decision to marry an Indian wasn`t easy.

"My parents are originally from India, so it was too much of a reversal of history for them, that I would move back. They have `explained away` India from their minds for psychological reasons and to hear of me moving back, of course, filled them with trepidation," she said.

"Everyone in their right minds knows that an Indo-Pakistan marriage can be a logistical nightmare and wouldn`t wish that for their child. It`s a very strong political divide.

"Though for the couples concerned, the marriage and the move is a natural enough thing to do if you care for each other for society at large it`s an act of insanity," she said.

Khan met her husband when she was in India for an artists` residency in 2001. The marriage took place recently.

Apart from Indian and Pakistani society not accepting such marriages (and landlords refusing to rent out homes to such couples), it is always the wife who has to move to her spouse`s country.

"In all Indo-Pakistan marriages, the men, whether Indian or Pakistani, are the ones who have a harder time getting visas. So the women end up moving to the other country," Khan pointed out.

Two other Pakistani artists and a journalist have married Indians and moved to India.

Three others are trying to make India their home.

Those involved in these cross-border marriages include theatre actors, writers and musicians.

Nida Ahmed (name changed), another Pakistani artist who has made India her home, said: "I have set up my home and have great friends here. For three months at a time, I can forget that my status is temporary. But then at the end of three months, I have to pull out my ticket and passport and leave."

"On the other hand if I apply for a resident permit, I can`t leave at all. Why should it have to be this or that?" she asked.

"I just want this (Indo-Pakistan relations) to become better. We function day-to-day with blinders on because it`s too tough a situation to get bogged down by. But there has to be some letting go and relaxation," Ahmed said.

"Restrictive work opportunities" is another area of complaint from these artists.

And with their numbers growing, these couples are contemplating floating a lobby group to get visas more easily.

Indian matrimonial websites too have opened franchises in Pakistan.

Shaadi.com runs a franchise from Karachi and has quite a few Pakistanis registered looking for love on the other side of Wagah.

PTI

Indo-Pak tug of war over Sania Mirza

Karachi: A new war has broken out between traditional rivals India and Pakistan. It is neither over Kashmir nor on the cricketing field. The tussle is over India’s tennis icon Sania Mirza’s future: whether she will play for India or represent her sasural, Pakistan, on court.

Click for full coverage of Sania-Shoaib affair»

While Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) has issued a resounding appeal to Sania to play for Pakistan, the same has been rejected by the All India Tennis Association (AITA).

PTF chief Dilawar Abbas has said that India’s tennis sensation Sania Mirza should represent Pakistan in international tennis tournaments after entering into wedlock with cricketer Shoaib Malik.

“It is great news for our tennis community that Sania Mirza is getting married to Shoaib Malik. We welcome her and hope that she would become a Pakistani national and play for us in future. She has a great future ahead and we would be delighted if she plays for Pakistan,” a leading newspaper quoted Abbas, as saying.

“Asian women traditionally follow their husbands which is why I’m hopeful that someday she would be inspired by Shoaib to play for Pakistan,” he added.

However, All India Tennis Association (AITA) has issued a statement confirming her participation for India till the 2012 Olympics.

"Sania Mirza and her parents have informed AITA that she will continue to play for India after her marriage with Shoaib Malik," AITA secretary-general Anil Khanna said.

"She has confirmed to be a part of the Indian team in the 2010 Commonwealth Games at Delhi (October 2010), XVI Asian Games at Guangzhou, China (November 2010), 2011 Fed Cup (February 2011), 2012 Olympics at London (July/August 2012)."

Sania has, however, already made it clear that she would continue representing India even after her marriage. Talking to Zee News, her father Imran Mirza said that she would surely play for India and not Pakistan.

Abbas said that even if Sania decides to continue playing for India, he hopes that she would associate herself with Pakistan tennis at some point of time.

“She can encourage our girls to take up tennis, she can inspire them to become world class players. We would hope that Sania would lend a helping hand to women’s tennis in Pakistan,” he said.

Abbas even suggested that Sania could team up with Pakistan’s Aisam-ul-Haq on the mixed-doubles circuit.

“Both Sania and Aisam are really good doubles players. I believe that their team would not just achieve great results internationally but will also help bridge the gap between India and Pakistan,” he said.

Sania, however, has made it clear that she would continue representing India at the international level even after marrying the former Pakistan captain later this month.

Click for full coverage of Sania-Shoaib affair»

-Agencies inputs

Sania should play for Pak after marriage

Karachi: Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) chief Dilawar Abbas has said that India’s tennis sensation Sania Mirza should represent Pakistan in international tennis tournaments after entering into wedlock with cricketer Shoaib Malik.

“It is great news for our tennis community that Sania Mirza is getting married to Shoaib Malik. We welcome her and hope that she would become a Pakistani national and play for us in future. She has a great future ahead and we would be delighted if she plays for Pakistan,” a leading newspaper quoted Abbas, as saying.

“Asian women traditionally follow their husbands which is why I’m hopeful that someday she would be inspired by Shoaib to play for Pakistan,” he added.

Sania has already made it clear that she would continue representing India even after her marriage. Talking to Zeenews, her father Imran Mirza said that she would surely play for India and not Pakistan.

Abbas said that even if Sania decides to continue playing for India, he hopes that she would associate herself with Pakistan tennis at some point of time.

“She can encourage our girls to take up tennis, she can inspire them to become world class players. We would hope that Sania would lend a helping hand to women’s tennis in Pakistan,” he said.

Abbas even suggested that Sania could team up with Pakistan’s Aisam-ul-Haq on the mixed-doubles circuit.

“Both Sania and Aisam are really good doubles players. I believe that their team would not just achieve great results internationally but will also help bridge the gap between India and Pakistan,” he said.

News regarding Sania marrying Shoaib were splashed in the media earlier this week, but controversy surrounded the sports couple soon after with reports of Shoaib already being married to a Hyderabad based girl, Ayesha Siddiqui.

MA Siddiqui, Ayesha’s father, had alleged that Shoiab had married his daughter over telephone in June 2002.

Siddiqui has even threatened to take legal action against Shoaib for marrying a second girl without divorcing his wife.

“As per law, Ayesha will be the first wife and Sania will be second. I want divorce for my daughter. I will seek legal recourse. I will sue Shoiab because he has wronged us,” Siddiqui told media persons.

However, Shoaib has denied the charges, saying he was only engaged to Ayesha and the marriage was called off because of problems between the two families.