Hyderabad, April 06: Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi today said the government will extend all assistance to former cricket captain Shoaib Malik, who has been slapped with cheating and harassment charges in India by Ayesha Siddiqui who claims to be his wife.
“I have asked the High Commissioner to India to contact India’s Foreign Ministry and get information about the nature of the FIR and what is in it,” Qureshi told reporters outside parliament.
“He is one of our renowned players and we are proud of him. The government of Pakistan and our High Commission will extend all possible assistance to him,” the minister said.
The High Commissioner, reportedly, called up Shoaib at night and assured him all assistance in the matter.
Shoaib, who is set to marry Indian tennis star Sania Mirza on April 15, had his passport and mobile seized by Hyderabad police.
“We greet him on his decision (to marry Sania Mirza) and we are praying for him. We hope God will allow him to set up his home happily. I cannot comment on the legal issues,” Qureshi added.
The Pakistan government earlier said it was in touch with Indian authorities in connection with the police complaint filed against Malik.
Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit told the media that the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi was in contact with Indian authorities and had asked them to share information on the First Information Report filed against Malik in Hyderabad.
Pakistani authorities have “to wait till all the details of the FIR are with us,” Basit said.
The Indian government had not yet shared details of the FIR with Pakistani officials, he said.
“We will give Shoaib Malik all the assistance he requires. We will proceed in the best interests of Shoaib Malik,” Basit said.
Malik recently travelled to Hyderabad after Ayesha’s reiterated her claims that she had married the cricketer in 2002.
The 28-year-old Shoaib told a police team this morning at the Hyderabad residence of 23-year-old Sania that he had been tricked into a marriage with Ayesha.
Hyderabad Police steps in
The Hyderabad police Monday seized Malik’s passport after questioning him for nearly two hours at Sania Mirza’s home on Ayesha’s complaint.
Shoaib was unhappy that his passport had been seized and said he would complain to the Pakistan High Commission, police sources said. He was questioned at Sania’s Jubilee Hills home.
Assistant Commissioner of Police R. Ravinder Reddy told reporters after the questioning that the case was under investigation but refused to answer any queries.
Another team of police officials recorded Ayesha’s statement at her residence in Banjara Hills. She handed over the ‘nikahnama’, or marriage document, which has been sent to the forensic laboratory to verify Shoaib’s signature.
Police posed several questions to Ayesha and her parents regarding her complaint. She reportedly gave details of Shoaib’s stay in Hyderabad during his visits after the marriage.
Shoaib, who landed in Hyderabad Friday, has been staying at Sania’s house in preparation for their April 15 wedding.
Since Ayesha’s charges of cheating, dowry harassment and criminal intimidation are serious and non-bailable, the police Sunday night alerted all airports to prevent Shoaib from leaving India.
She alleged that Shoaib had offered her USD 1 million to keep mum about their marriage. She also stated that he threatened her to not speak to the media.
The FIR has been booked under sections 498 A (harassment), 420 (cheating) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. Section 498 A also relates to cruelty against married women.
A senior police officer said they were also taking legal opinion on the complaint against Shoaib as it involved a foreigner and the crimes might have been committed by him abroad.
The police may also have to take permission from the union home ministry before arresting Shoaib.
The cricketer may file an anticipatory bail to avoid arrest.
Shoaib had Sunday denied marrying Ayesha saying he signed a ‘nikahnama’ for marrying a girl whose photographs she had been sending him.
-Agencies