A Pakistani man who fell in love with an Indian woman over the internet five years ago and moved to her country to be with her will soon be deported by New Delhi for overstaying his tourist visa, Hindustan Times reported on Wednesday.
Akbar Durani and Sofia's love story began when the two started interacting with each other over social media in 2011. The two grew fond of each other through their contact over Facebook and Skype.
31-year-old Durani, a resident of Hyderabad, and Sofia, a resident of Dewas in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, got married in her city in 2013. A year later, their son Ariz was born.
Speaking to Indian media, Durani said his attraction for Sofia compelled him to travel to India.
"I along with my mother obtained a visa and went to Dewas. I met Sofia's parents who immediately agreed to my marriage proposal with a condition that I will settle down in India after marriage," he said.
Durani, who holds a master's degree in economics, began teaching at a school in Madhya Pradesh.
As he was living on a tourist visa in the country, Durani said he approached India's Foreigner Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to apply for a Long-Term Visa, where he was asked to submit a relevant application.
"I approached the FRRO office for a 'Long-Term Visa' two months before the expiry of my [current] visa, citing my marriage with an Indian woman. But to no avail," a disheartened Durani said.
"On the day the duration of my visa ended, I visited the FRRO office to inquire about my visa status. There, I was arrested on charges of overstaying in India and was sent to prison," he said.
Durani was sentenced to a year in prison in August 2015 for violating visa norms and overstaying in India.
"On Aug 8, 2016, I was released from the prison and was lodged in a police station for want of travel documents to be issued by Pakistan High Commission," the Pakistani national said, adding it took the commission over six months to confirm his antecedents.
Durani's ordeal, however, does not end here. He may not be able to reunite with his wife and two-year-old son, he said.
"My wife and kid are not allowed to travel with me to Pakistan. It would be tough for my wife and son to stay in India in my absence," Durrani added.
"They are in Amritsar to bid me good bye. The worst part is that I may not get visa again to visit India as visa norms were violated on my part," he said.
He is also not sure if the Pakistani High Commission would issue a visa to Sofia and Ariz to visit him in Pakistan.
"I never thought that I would be forced to separate from my family after settling down in India. It is a tsunami in my life," he said.
