KARACHI: The deaf and mute Indian girl, Geeta, will leave for New Delhi on Monday (today) though doubts linger about the family she has recognised as hers through photographs sent by the Indian High Commission.

Faisal Edhi told Dawn that even the Indian foreign ministry was doubtful about the family the 23-year-old girl had recognised as hers. But the issue could be resolved once a DNA test was carried out, he added.

“The Edhi Foundation is willing to let her go despite knowing that the accounts of Geeta and her apparent family about her are contradictory. After all, she is an Indian citizen.” he said.

“We are glad that the foreign ministers and high commissions of India and Pakistan are taking interest in her case. Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s personal interest in the case means that she will ensure that the girl meets her real family,” Faisal Edhi said

Geeta will leave for New Delhi along with Bilquis Edhi and her grandchildren Saba and Saad Edhi. The foreign ministry of Pakistan has issued the visa permit. Geeta’s travel documents have been completed and will be given to her at the airport. P.K Jane, an official of the Indian High Commission, will also accompany her to India.

After Geeta recognised a family as hers through pictures sent by the Indian High Commission about a week ago, the family living in the Indian state of Bihar said that Geeta was married and had a son when she left home. But according to Edhi Foundation, she was a minor girl when they took her in some 13 years ago. According to Faisal Edhi, Geeta had told them through sign language that her father was an elderly man and she had a stepmother and step siblings.

Thirteen years ago, Geeta was brought to Edhi Foundation in Karachi by Rangers personnel who had found her near Indo-Pak border in Punjab, according to officials of the foundation. By that time, Geeta had lived in different facilities of the foundation in Punjab. The Rangers handed her over to Edhi Foundation because they did not want to put her in a prison cell, which is usually what happens to people found near the border without documents identifying their citizenship.

She is said to have been named Geeta by the employees of Edhi Foundation. Her story came to limelight after an Indian film, Bajrangi Bhaijan, depicted a similar tale. The film again brought the discussion back to Geeta, who has lived with the Edhis at their Mithadar headquarters in Karachi for a decade.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play