16 years after marriage, this Pakistani woman will vote for first time in 2019 LS elections
Qadian (Gurdaspur), March 17, 2019: Sixteen year after her marriage to an Indian citizen, she will, for the first time, cast her vote in the coming parliamentary elections.
Tahira Maqbool from Pakistan married Maqbool Ahmed, a resident of Kadian town in Gurdaspur district of Indian Punjab in December 2003. She had to wait patiently for 13 years to become eligible as the Indian voter. She was finally granted the citizenship in April 2016.
Visibly excited over her status as a voter, Tahira appealed all voters to exercise their right to franchise to elect a government capable to taking India to greater heights of development and prosperity.
Before their marriage was to be solemnized in 2003, the relations between India and Pakistan soured in the wake of terror attack on the Indian parliament house. The situation turned so bitter between both countries that it threatened prospects of their marriage.
In the situation, Maqbool could not go to Pakistan to marry her yet he continued making efforts. Tahira also applied for the visa to visit India and their marriage finally took place at Kadian on December 7, 2003.
Recalling her struggle to acquire the Indian citizenship, she said thanked Almighty for answering her prayers after long drawn patience. She blamed politics for bitter relations between both countries even as common people want peace.She told that she was lucky to get the Indian Citizenship in 2016 and exercised her right to vote in Punjab Assembly elections but would poll her vote in Lok Sabha polls for the first time on May 19, 2019.
Maqbool Ahmed too is quite excited as for the first both husband and wife will go together this time to cast their votes. Taking about the problem faced by the couple, he appealed to the Indian government to relax norms so that the Pakistani women married in India do not have to wait for so long to get the citizenship.
Their kids also expressed happiness over the development. Their daughter Samaira said they always felt bad on seeing their father going alone to cast his vote in elections while their mother stayed back at home. It would be the happiest moment for them to see their parents going out together to cast their votes, she said.
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