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Pakistani nationals’ long wait to be Indians | Hyderabad News
HYDERABAD: Mohammadi Begum, a 68-year-old Pakistani national, is eagerly waiting for her Indian citizenship certificate. Mohammadi, who hails from a landed family of Bodhan in Nizamabad district, became a Pakistani national after marriage and wishes to die as an Indian. She’s bed-ridden for over four years after being afflicted with Parkinson’s disease.
Mohammadi continues to reside in Hyderabad with a long-term visa, which she extends through a video call. She applied for citizenship in 2012 and has been awaiting clearance from ministry of home affairs (MHA) after completing formalities. Since she’s tied to her bed, then Hyderabad collector L Sharman visited her at her Tolichowki house and administered the oath of allegiance, a key formality for Indian citizenship.
Mohammadi Begum would frequently visit Hyderabad and attend functions and festivals. Now, she can’t walk due to Parkinson’s disease. “Recently, we celebrated Ramzan with four other siblings and relatives, while she sat resplendent in a wheelchair. A beautiful woman in her youth, Mohammadi can’t bear the thought of being bed-ridden. For us, she’s more of a mother than an elder sister,” younger brother Mohammad Akbar told TOI.
Farhana Murtuza from Karachi, is also awaiting Centre’s nod to grant her citizenship. Her husband, Syed Abdul Hai, who grew up in Old Malakpet, runs a private school and the couple resides in the locality. In 1989, Hai married Murtuza, a graduate in economics from a university in Karachi. “After the wedding, I visited Karachi just once in 1991 to attend a function at my in-laws’ house. It has been a decade-old wait for Indian citizenship. I will be happy if MHA grants citizenship soon,” said Syed Abdul. Two other Pakistani nationals, Syed Bilquis Fathima and Javeria Sultana Khatoon, too are waiting to receive Indian citizenship certificate.
Hyderabad Collectorate officials, who communicate with MHA on citizenship issues, said after oath of allegiance, files were sent to the state government and the matter is currently pending with the Centre. “Till then, the Pakistani nationals would have to wait,” said an official.
Mohammadi continues to reside in Hyderabad with a long-term visa, which she extends through a video call. She applied for citizenship in 2012 and has been awaiting clearance from ministry of home affairs (MHA) after completing formalities. Since she’s tied to her bed, then Hyderabad collector L Sharman visited her at her Tolichowki house and administered the oath of allegiance, a key formality for Indian citizenship.
Mohammadi Begum would frequently visit Hyderabad and attend functions and festivals. Now, she can’t walk due to Parkinson’s disease. “Recently, we celebrated Ramzan with four other siblings and relatives, while she sat resplendent in a wheelchair. A beautiful woman in her youth, Mohammadi can’t bear the thought of being bed-ridden. For us, she’s more of a mother than an elder sister,” younger brother Mohammad Akbar told TOI.
Farhana Murtuza from Karachi, is also awaiting Centre’s nod to grant her citizenship. Her husband, Syed Abdul Hai, who grew up in Old Malakpet, runs a private school and the couple resides in the locality. In 1989, Hai married Murtuza, a graduate in economics from a university in Karachi. “After the wedding, I visited Karachi just once in 1991 to attend a function at my in-laws’ house. It has been a decade-old wait for Indian citizenship. I will be happy if MHA grants citizenship soon,” said Syed Abdul. Two other Pakistani nationals, Syed Bilquis Fathima and Javeria Sultana Khatoon, too are waiting to receive Indian citizenship certificate.
Hyderabad Collectorate officials, who communicate with MHA on citizenship issues, said after oath of allegiance, files were sent to the state government and the matter is currently pending with the Centre. “Till then, the Pakistani nationals would have to wait,” said an official.
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