Seema Haider’s first husband Ghulam Haider Seeks Custody of Children from Indian Govt after Wife Crossed Border Illegally

New Delhi: Ghulam Haider, Pakistani woman Seema Haider’s first husband, on Monday appealed to the Indian government to reunite him with his four children, who are currently living in India. Seema, 32 years old, had illegally crossed the border into India with her children in May 2023 to be with her boyfriend, Sachin Meena, 27, whom she met playing online game PUBG in 2019.

Seema Haider was from Jacobabad in Pakistan’s Sindh province. She traveled from Karachi to India through Nepal. Her story was widely covered in the Indian media in July 2023 when Indian authorities found her staying with Sachin in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Seema, who claimed she was married to Sachin, had by then converted to Hinduism and refused to go back to Pakistan.

Soon after, they were arrested and Seema was charged with the offense of entering India illegally while Sachin was booked for giving shelter to an illegal immigrant. Both were granted bail later.

Ghulam Haider, who was working in Saudi Arabia at the time of Seema’s escape, has been fighting for the custody of his children ever since. In February 2024, Pakistani famous lawyer and human rights activist Ansar Burney confirmed that Haider had sought his assistance. Burney stated that legal proceedings had been initiated in Indian courts through Indian lawyer Ali Momin. The case’s progress, however, remains unclear.

Haider’s plea highlights the emotional toll of the situation. “I appeal to the Indian minister to help me get my children back,” he said, emphasizing that his children’s welfare should take priority.

Seema Haider’s Stand

Seema, on the other hand has publicly declared she is staying put in India. She claims her children and her have embraced the Hindu faith. Recently, via an Instagram post, she announced to the world she is carrying a child for Sachin, ensuring she will definitely stay.

The case throws up complex legal and cultural challenges involving issues of illegal immigration, custody rights, and religious conversion. As Haider fights for his children’s custody, Seema’s actions have sparked both support and criticism on social media and among legal experts in both India and Pakistan.

Until now, the Indian government hasn’t made a statement on Haider’s appeal. As the case progresses, it is capturing massive attention with respect to the nature of relationships between borders and its influence on the children who have become a casualty.