Chandigarh, Feb 13: Sarabjit Kaur, an Indian national who went missing during a religious pilgrimage to Pakistan last year, has been released from a women’s shelter home in Lahore. The 48-year-old resident of Kapurthala has reportedly declined to return to India, stating her intention to remain with her husband in Pakistan.
Kaur, who now goes by the name Noor Fatima, was seen in viral media footage following her release from Dar-ul-Aman on February 11. Her release came after initial deportation plans were reportedly put on hold by Pakistani authorities. She had been detained last month for overstaying her visa, which was originally granted for a Sikh pilgrimage in November 2025.
In a recent video statement, she mentioned that her relationship with her Pakistani husband spans eight years. “I want to spend the rest of my life here,” she directly said while confirming her return to her husband’s residence.
The situation began when Kaur traveled to Nankana Sahib on November 4 to mark the 556th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. While her group returned to India on November 13, she remained behind, later surfacing as having married and converted. Officials noted that her legal status remains a subject of review given the specific religious nature of her original entry permit.
