Muhammad Shahid and his spouse had taken their six children to India in December 2000 to visit their maternal side of the family. Back then, none of the children had crossed the age of 10. But in an unfortunate turn of events, Shahid was arrested on charges of spying, his wife Najma Parveen turned herself to expedite the case, and the children were left with the in-laws in India. Almost a decade later, the family finally reunited on Thursday – minus a son, Hamza, who passed away because of “depression” after his parent’s incarceration on bogus charges.
“We went to Meruth on a three-month visa in December 2000. My wife is an Indian Muslim, and wanted our children to meet her side of the family. But a few days ahead of my return, I was arrested by Indian security on allegations of spying and sent to jail,” Shahid told Pakistan Today. At the time, all six children were alive: Nine-year-old Nishaat, seven-year-old twins Rabbiya and Sania, five-year-old Hamza, three-year-old Haris, and two-year-old Ramish. While Parveen’s family tried to follow up the case, the police were unhelpful and not willing to accommodate any requests.
Disappointed with their attitude and constant threats, Parveen turned herself in during 2002, thinking that her arrest might expedite the case and her husband will be released after it is proved that the charges are false. A case was subsequently registered against her as well. What Parveen did not realise is the affect the parents’ incarceration would have on the children: even though Parveen’s family took care of the children, Hamza went into depression. In 2005, 10-year-old Hamza passed away.
“When I heard about my son’s death, I remained in trauma for four or five days,” Shahid recalled. “I did not even remember my own condition, and my cell mate informed me later on that I had gone numb after hearing the news. When I regained control of my senses, I realised that no one except Allah could help us in this critical situation and I started praying fives times a day,” he said.
During incarceration, however, the couple never saw each other. Their only contact was through letters that their relatives would bring to them. “Some two months after Hamza’s death, my brother-in-law came to meet me in Jaipur jail and handed me a letter from Parveen. I still remember the words she wrote: ‘Shahid, will we ever return home or will we be buried here like our son?’. I broke down after that letter, but told her not to lose faith in God and to always pray to Him. I told her that I was sure that one day, we will be blessed,” he said.
In May 2006, Parveen was released for want of evidence. By August 2010, Shahid was also exonerated. “All allegations levelled against my wife and me were proved baseless. I was arrested from Meeruth but in the FIR, my arrest was showed to be from Jaipur, a falsehood I cannot understand even today,” Shahid said. Despite the couple’s honourable release, Indian authorities did not let the children leave.
“My in-laws in India, the Indian High Commission in Pakistan, Pakistani High Commission in India and I did every thing we possibly could to bring them back, and due to everyone’s support, my family got reunited at 5:30 pm today. We are together after 10 years,” a teary-eyed Shahid said. Despite the reunification, one person’s absence is overwhelming. “I still remember the time when we were leaving for India, and Hamza said ‘Aapi, I will buy lots of things but I will give you nothing as you are not holding my hand here’,” recalled Nishat. “Unfortunately he is not with us today but we will cherish his memories.”
