No passport, no nikah

Uncertainty continued over the Sania Mirza-Shoaib Malik wedding.

Qazi Azmatullah Jafri of Dar-Ul-Qazzat, Golconda, has reportedly expressed his inability to perform the nikah unless Shoaib gets his passport that was seized by city police during his interrogation on April 4. Though Ms Ayesha Siddiqui, who had alleged that Shoaib was her husband, has informed the police that she was withdrawing her complaint, Shoaib would get his passport back only after completing legal formalities.

Qazis do not perform marriages of foreign nationals without verifying the passport and no-objection certificates (NOCs) from their respective governments.

With police yet to return Shoaib’s passport, the qazi reportedly refused to perform nikah on Friday evening despite pressure from the families of Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik.

“Normally, foreigners keep photocopies of their passports. In Shoaib’s case, I was told that there is no photocopy,” said qazi Azmatullah.

According to Ms Richa, the media manager appointed by the Mirzas to update the media on Sania’s wedding plans, said “the family members are still undecided on the nikah. If there is any development on this front, the media would be the first one to know. We will keep you informed on latest developments.”

She added that as of now the preparations for the reception on April 15 are going on.

“Shoaib’s mother, brother, sisters, brother-in-law, niece and nephew are in the city. Few more relatives are expected from Germany. A thousand guests have been invited for the reception,” she said.

“Sania and Shoaib’s loved ones are preparing for the sangeet to be held on April 13. Rehearsals are on. Sania’s friends are planning to light up the house with dias on her special day to create a marriage atmosphere,” Ms Richa said.