After 22 years of separation, Hamida Banu, who was lured to Pakistan under false pretenses, has safely returned to India with the help of social media.
Missing Indian Woman Reunites with Family After 22 Years in Pakistan
Missing Indian Woman Reunites with Family After 22 Years in Pakistan
An Indian woman who was trafficked and trapped in Pakistan finally returns home after a YouTube discovery reunites her with family.
In an extraordinary turn of events, Hamida Banu, an Indian woman who was trafficked to Pakistan over two decades ago, is finally back home, highlighting the harrowing realities of human trafficking. Banu, 75, claims she was deceived with promises of a job in Dubai and instead found herself in Hyderabad, Pakistan. Her ordeal began in 2002, when a recruitment agent convinced her to pay 20,000 rupees ($250) for employment in Dubai. Instead, she was imprisoned in a house for three months before marrying a street vendor in Karachi, who sadly passed away during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Her situation caught the attention of Indian journalist Khalfan Shaikh, who stumbled upon a YouTube interview from 2022 featuring Banu. That interview, conducted by Pakistani activist Waliullah Maroof, was eventually seen by her grandson, who had never met her. Emotional video calls were arranged, allowing Banu to reconnect with her family in India after 23 years of isolation. "I missed you all so much. I didn't stay here willingly, I had no other choice," she expressed during the conversation with her daughter, Yasmin.
After completing the necessary identity checks by both Indian and Pakistani officials, Banu crossed back into India, expressing relief and joy at reuniting with her children and siblings. "I have brothers, sisters, children there [in India], but I don't want to be a burden on anyone," Banu stated, grateful for the chance to return to her roots at last.
Banu's story serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers of human trafficking and the resilience of family bonds, even across years and borders.
Her situation caught the attention of Indian journalist Khalfan Shaikh, who stumbled upon a YouTube interview from 2022 featuring Banu. That interview, conducted by Pakistani activist Waliullah Maroof, was eventually seen by her grandson, who had never met her. Emotional video calls were arranged, allowing Banu to reconnect with her family in India after 23 years of isolation. "I missed you all so much. I didn't stay here willingly, I had no other choice," she expressed during the conversation with her daughter, Yasmin.
After completing the necessary identity checks by both Indian and Pakistani officials, Banu crossed back into India, expressing relief and joy at reuniting with her children and siblings. "I have brothers, sisters, children there [in India], but I don't want to be a burden on anyone," Banu stated, grateful for the chance to return to her roots at last.
Banu's story serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers of human trafficking and the resilience of family bonds, even across years and borders.
