Shoaib gets dad’s name wrong

A fresh controversy surfaced in the Shoaib Malik-Sania Mirza marriage saga on Saturday with the Pakistani cricketer being accused of giving his father’s name wrongly in the papers divorcing his first wife, Ayesha Siddiqui.

In the divorce documents signed on April 7, Shoaib mentioned his father’s name as Malik Saleem Hussain while in the invitation card of his wedding with Sania, the name is given as Malik Faqeer Hussain.

Sources said in Shoaib’s passport, his father’s name is given as Malik Faqeer Hussain. Incidentally, the cricketer mentioned his father’s name as Malik Saleem Hussain in the Nikahnama of Ayesha.

Shoaib could face legal action if Ayesha’s family files a case against him on charges of furnishing false information. Some legal experts are seeing it as an attempt by Shoaib to invalidate his divorce with Ayesha by furnishing a wrong name so Sania can claim to be his first wife.

However, Mr Mohammad Rehman, lawyer of the Siddiquis, said they would consult the Wakf Board and ask for a fresh affidavit from Shoaib with his father’s correct name.

The Congress leader, Mr Abid Rasool Khan, who brokered the divorce deal, said the Siddiqui family had not raised any objections so far in connection with the issue.He played down the issue saying that a correction can be made easily by approaching the Wakf Board. “It is not a big issue,” he said.

Serious questions are being raised as to why Shoaib used a wrong name of his father in the nikahnama with Ayesha and while divorcing her.

Shoaib’s talaq with Ayesha and nikah with Sania will be registered with the same qazi of Golconda.The Wakf Board issued the divorce certificate of Shoaib and Ayesha and the same board will also issue the marriage certificate of Sania and Shoaib. Therefore, the change in name would enable Shoaib to term Sania his first wife.

Further, if Ayesha’s controversy resurfaces for any reason, then Shoaib could technically deny having divorced her citing the error in names.