Sept 20, 2024
By Farooq Mehsud
DERA ISMAIL KHAN
Sayeda Anam Naqvi, an advocate from Dera Ismail Khan, has been enduring an ordeal for the last 15 months – after her husband, Saifur Rehman, took their three-year-old son, Ali Abbas, to Britain deceptively. In less than three months, he sent Naqvi a divorce notice from abroad.
“I still remember that painful day when my child was taken from me on July 22, 2023,” Naqvi recalls. “On September 7, at 5.12pm, I received a WhatsApp message containing my divorce notice. I was in disbelief, especially since Rehman Sahib had blocked me on the messaging app.”
She adds, “Only a mother who has faced something similar can understand my feelings. I couldn’t believe this was happening to me… such stories are usually confined to courtrooms or TV dramas.”
Despite the emotional turmoil, Naqvi refused to step back. She initiated a legal battle for her son’s return, filing for extradition in a UK court. While she initially succeeded, the victory was short-lived as Rehman violated the court’s order. “On February 8, 2024, the court ruled in my favour, and ordered my son’s return,” she says.
She pursued the matter further, filing another case in her local family high court in the UK on October 13, 2023, with the help of lawyer Sulema Jahangir. The court mandated a hold on Rehman’s passport on October 16, 2023, and summoned him following day.
This set off a cycle of appeals from Rehman, further complicating the situation.
“The child was ordered to be returned to me on June 3, and he was supposed to land in Islamabad,” Naqvi explains.
Her lawyer in Pakistan, Syed Abid Hussain Bukhari, highlights her ongoing challenges: “It has been more than four months since the court ordered the child’s return, but he has yet to be presented in the court.”
Bukhari notes that Naqvi’s fight for guardianship is hindered by Rehman’s refusal to appear in the court for over three months. “Even the police are not cooperating,” he adds.
The emotional toll has been significant for Naqvi. Her experiences have led to mental health struggles.
Dr. Rizwana Kulsoom, her physician, says, “She is suffering from severe psychological and emotional pain due to her separation from her child, leading to depression.”
As Naqvi continues her fight for her son, her story sheds light on the complexities and heartaches of international custody battles.