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Wahida Begum and her 11-year-old son, Faiz Khan, were finally reunited with Indian soil on Wednesday after a harrowing ordeal that began in November 2022. 

 

The duo, who hail from Assam's Nagaon district, were handed over to Indian authorities at the Attari-Wagah border, marking the culmination of a months-long effort spearheaded by advocate Santosh Kumar Suman.

 

Begum's nightmare began when she was allegedly duped by a man posing as a marriage prospect in Canada.

 

Lured by promises of a new life, she sold her property and left Nagaon with the man. Being promised a dream life in Canada, Wahida Begum and her son were duped by a travel agent.

 

Instead of conjugal bliss, Begum found herself trafficked to Saudi Arabia using forged documents. 

 

The horror didn't end there, as she was then transported to Pakistan, all while Faiz remained by her side.

 

Wahida Begum recounted her harrowing journey upon returning to India. "My son and I spent seven days in Dubai and another seven in Qandahar. We were then compelled to cross the Chaman border, where Pakistani Rangers apprehended us. Afterwards, we endured approximately six months in Quetta jail before being relocated to Gadani jail. It was only during our time at Landi jail that we finally gained access to the Indian consulate," Begum shared.

 

The first inkling of their plight came through a frantic phone call to Begum's family in Assam.

 

This was followed by a legal notice from a Pakistani court citing their detention for lacking proper travel documents.

 

Begum's mother immediately lodged a police complaint, and with the help of Suman, a legal battle for their repatriation ensued.

 

Suman acknowledged the initial hurdles, including a frustrating lack of acknowledgement from Pakistani authorities.

 

However, he lauded the unwavering efforts of the Indian government, particularly the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs, who played a pivotal role in securing their release through diplomatic channels.

 

"The Supreme Court's intervention proved crucial," Suman said, outlining the legal wrangling that finally yielded a positive outcome. 

 

"Following the court's directive, a writ petition was submitted to the aforementioned ministries, paving the way for negotiations with Pakistan. Ultimately, the Pakistani Interior Ministry confirmed the repatriation of Wahida and Faiz, along with other Indian detainees, via the Wagah Border on May 29th," he added.

 

Begum and Faiz's ordeal isn't over. As part of the repatriation process, Begum will undergo counselling by the Border Security Force (BSF). Additionally, her statement will be recorded under CrPC 164 to ensure adherence to legal protocol.

 

While the family prepares for their return to Assam, another legal battle awaits them. Begum's relatives intend to approach the Supreme Court to seek guardianship over her and Faiz. 

 

The repatriation process has been meticulously conducted following the Repatriation of Prisoners Act of 2003, adhering to legal norms and international protocols.