Indian Sikh Woman Converts to Islam and Marries in Pakistan During Religious Pilgrimage

Chandigarh:

A 52-year-old Indian Sikh woman named Sarabjit Kaur from Kapurthala, Punjab, has reportedly converted to Islam and married a Pakistani man, according to documents that have surfaced days after she went missing from a pilgrim group visiting Pakistan for Guru Nanak Dev's Prakash Parv celebrations.

Kaur crossed into Pakistan through the Wagah-Attari border on November 4 as part of a 1,992-member Sikh pilgrim delegation traveling under a bilateral religious shrine visit agreement. The group, which was celebrating the 555th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, returned to India on November 13 after their 10-day visit, but Kaur was not among them.

An Islamic marriage contract (nikahnama) written in Urdu has emerged showing that Kaur converted to Islam, changed her name to Noor, and married Nasir Hussain, a resident of Sheikhupura, located approximately 56 kilometers from Lahore. The authenticity of this document has not been independently confirmed.

Records indicate Kaur was previously divorced and has two sons with her ex-husband Karnail Singh, who has been living in England for nearly three decades.

Kaur's passport was issued in Punjab's Muktsar district. Immigration records show no documentation of her exit from Pakistan or entry back into India, confirming her disappearance.

Upon discovering Kaur had not returned with the pilgrim group, the Immigration Department immediately notified Punjab Police, who have submitted a preliminary report to other Indian agencies. Government sources report that the Indian mission is communicating with Pakistani authorities regarding her disappearance.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the premier Sikh religious organization, annually sends pilgrim delegations to Pakistan to visit historic gurdwaras, particularly during Guru Nanak's Prakash Parv. The Indian government had permitted this 10-day pilgrimage to the Nankana Sahib shrine last month, reversing an earlier decision to deny permission due to security concerns just two weeks prior.