Qadian, October 20
The sada-e-sarhad will bring a special guest from Pakistan in the last week of this month. Tahira, a resident of Faislabad (Pakistan), will perform ‘nikah’ with a local correspondent of a national daily, Maqbool Ahmed (33), here on October 31.
This will be the first cross-border marriage after the attack on Indian Parliament in 2001.
Separated by politics, they will meet after a gap of two years. Maqbool had travelled to Pakistan to get engaged to Tahira, his first cousin. Tahira is coming alone by the Lahore-Delhi bus. All rituals of the ‘nikah’ will be performed here in the absence of her parents. Earlier, the ‘nikah’ was scheduled for December, 2001. Tahira is the first Pakistani girl to be granted a visa for marriage after the attack on Indian Parliament.
The Government of India granted a visa to Tahira on the recommendation of a former Prime Minister, Mr I.K. Gujral, whom Maqbool had approached.
Meanwhile, it is celebration time in Qadian, the international headquarters of the Jamait-e-Ahmdiya. Maqbool said since India had taken the initiative in granting a visa for marriage, the Pakistan Government should reciprocate the gesture.
Talking to TNS, Maqbool said ‘walima’ (marriage reception) would be arranged after the month of Ramzan, which begins on October 26. The marriage would be declared performed by Mirza Wasim Ahmed, chief secretary of Jamait-e-Ahmdiya (Indian cell).
