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Pakistan has finalized arrangements to repatriate Hamida Banu, an Indian national, after 22 years of being separated from her family. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the decision on Monday.
Banu’s ordeal began in 2002 when a recruitment agent promised her a job as a cook in Dubai. Instead, she was trafficked to Pakistan, where she was initially detained and later married. Despite efforts from her family in Mumbai to locate her, it wasn’t until a recent social media video that her whereabouts were discovered.
The breakthrough came when social media activist Waliullah Maroof conducted an interview with Banu and shared the video, which eventually caught the attention of Indian journalist Khalfan Shaikh. The video led to Banu’s family recognizing her.
After her first husband’s death, Banu remarried, but tragically, her second husband passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the aftermath, Banu reached out to Maroof for help, which eventually led to her reunion with her daughter Yasmin Shaikh via a video call.
Once Banu’s citizenship was confirmed, Pakistan made arrangements to send her back to India in less than ten days. This decision marks the end of a long and emotional journey for Banu and her family, who are now preparing for her return.
