Woman Chooses to Stay Despite Previous Plea for Rescue
The case of a Pakistani woman recovered in Iran has taken an unexpected turn. The 22-year-old woman, identified as Sadia from Latifabad, Hyderabad, had previously appealed to the Sindh governor for help against her allegedly abusive husband, Imran Bhatti. She had claimed that she was brought to Iran illegally and married under duress.
However, in a handwritten note and video message, Sadia stated that she wishes to stay with her husband and will travel with him rather than return to Pakistan alone. She explained that her pregnancy and the presence of a young child make it impossible for her to travel alone.
In her message, Sadia expressed gratitude to Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran, Mudassir Tipu, the Consul in Mashhad, Shahryar, and their team for their assistance in facilitating her recovery. She said: “My physical condition does not allow me to travel alone, especially because I am carrying a young child with me.”
Embassy and Iranian Authorities Provide Assistance
An Iranian diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Sadia has been moved to a police camp in Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan province. The diplomat added that Pakistan’s embassy in Tehran has full access to her, and authorities are waiting for Pakistani officials to organize her return.
Regarding Imran Bhatti, the diplomat noted that no official complaint has been filed against him by Sadia, her family, or Pakistani authorities. As Sadia has expressed willingness to stay with her husband, there are no grounds for legal action against him. The exact nature of Bhatti’s job and his activities in Iran remain unclear.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran, Mudassir Tipu, stated that arrangements had been made for Sadia’s return, including a hotel stay and transportation, but the woman refused. Tipu described the case as a family dispute that has now complicated the rescue process.
Family Concerns and Legal Complications
Sadia’s family revealed that they had limited contact with her over the past two years, mostly through calls made from neighbors’ or shopkeepers’ phones. They expressed difficulty in traveling to Iran due to financial constraints and urged the embassy to take further action.
The Iranian diplomat noted that traveling back with her husband is legally complex, as Sadia entered Iran without a passport or visa. Special committees review such cases according to Iranian law, and decisions are made to ensure safety and compliance.
Currently, Sadia, who is four months pregnant, remains in the police camp under secure conditions. Authorities have confirmed her safety, and no violent incidents have occurred during her stay.
The situation remains unresolved, with her return to Pakistan dependent on either her family or embassy intervention, while she prefers to remain with her husband in Iran.
