Mumbai: 27-year-old housewife, originally from Pakistan, is now in a fix. On one hand she has been held guilty for obtaining Indian Passport using forged documents and on the other hand she now wants to go to Pakistan to renew her Pakistani citizenship card and also meet her parents, residing in Pakistan.

The sessions court on Friday turned down the request of Khatija Rangwala, to travel to Karachi, Pakistan to renew her ‘Shanakti Card’ (Pakistani Citizenship Card). With the plea, she has attached the Adhar card of her husband and two children who are Indian Citizens and also a copy of her Shanakti Card.

She had contended that from the last 15 years she is in India and has not met her parents who are in Pakistan. She pleaded that she is ready to abide by all conditions if allowed to go to Pakistan.

Besides, she claimed that she had approached the Pakistan High Commission, in Delhi for renewal of her passport as her Shanakti Card had expired in the year 2015. She claimed that the Pakistani High Commission Authorities had refused to do so and she was told that unless she renews her 'Shanakti Card' they will not renew her Pakistani Passport.

The woman further stated that the Shanakti Card can be renewed only in her presence therefore, she has to travel to Karachi, Pakistan for getting the card renewed. Besides, she also requires no objection (NORI) Clearance from the Indian Authorities to allow her to return to India.

The plea was objected to by the public prosecutor KF Tadavi. The prosecution expressed the apprehension that there is a possibility that she may not return back. She had prepared forged documents to show that she is an Indian citizen and thus cheated the Indian Authorities therefore, her application may be rejected, the prosecution contended.

The prosecution had claimed that she had filed an affidavit before the Indian Authorities claiming that she is an Indian Citizen and all her documents - birth proof and education proofs and other documents, were lost in the Godhra Communal riots. During verification of her documents, it was revealed that she is a Pakistani National and residing in India without a valid visa.

The woman was booked by the JJ Marg police station in 2010 for forgery and also for submitting forged documents to obtain Indian Passport. Based on the prosecution evidence, the woman was sentenced to two years by the metropolitan magistrate court, Mazgaon in August 2012. She later challenged the verdict before the sessions court. Her appeal was admitted by the sessions court and the sentence was suspended. However, pending the appeal the woman has after lapse of years, the woman approached the court seeking permission to visit her native place, Karachi, Pakistan.

The sessions court judge Vishal Gaike after hearing plea of the woman noted that, the charges of forgery of documents and the offences under the Indian Passports Act are proved against her. The court further said that though judgement convicting her has been suspended but till the disposal of her appeal, she cannot travel to Pakistan.

“She cannot be allowed to travel to Pakistan for any reason as she has admitted that she is a Pakistani National and wants to travel to Pakistan to renew her Pakistani Passport and thereafter to secure an Indian visa on the basis of said renewed passport.’ When the Free press journal contacted her lawyer, the counsel expressed her inability to comment on the case.