Sharbat Gula fighting Hepatitis C, lawyer tells court

E-Paper | March 01, 2026

The lawyer of Nat Geo's famed 'Afghan Girl' Sharbat Gula on Tuesday told the court that her client, who was arrested on Oct 26 from her Peshawar residence, is suffering from Hepatitis C.

Sharbat Gula was arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for alleged forgery of a Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC).

During a bail hearing before a special court, Sharbat Gula's lawyer said she is the sole bread winner of her family and is currently suffering from Hepatitis C.

The lawyer also told the court that Sharbat Gula was on her way to Afghanistan when she arrested.

Earlier this week, Sharbat Gula was sent to prison on judicial remand by a local court.

The court observed in its order that when the suspect was asked whether she wanted to record her confession she replied in negative and refused to confess her guilt. The court then sent the suspect to Peshawar central prison on judicial remand for 14 days.

The bail hearing has been adjourned till Nov 2.

Sharbat Gula, who fled Afghanistan during Soviet occupation shot to fame after her photograph as a young refugee was published on the cover of National Geographic back in 1985 on her arrival to Peshawar.

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The Right Left

Nov 01, 2016 01:24pm

This is sad. She may have broken the law of the land by trying to get a false ID. But we need to understand the context. She has lived a hard life, running from a brutal civil war, fighting to survive. She only did what she could to stay and survive in a comparatively safe place. If we really need to catch criminals, go catch those sitting in the parliament with fake everything, looting and plundering this nation with both hands, feet and nose, and leave alone the poor trying to just stay alive.

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S. A. M.

Nov 01, 2016 02:00pm

we have to understand she was forced to leave her home country because of war. she is the sole bread winner for her family. who is taking care of her children. there are bigger criminals that get bailed without any problem. can the authorities at least show some clemency in the case of this lady. it's my plea that if she wants to stay in pakistan she should be allowed Pakistani citizenship. she has been living here godson many years and in my opinion now it should be given to her and her children as an entitlement not as a favour. Thanks

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Harry

Nov 01, 2016 03:13pm

While we agree that these people have been suffering and are and probably will suffer, but what has Pakistan got in return. Sod all. So please stop playing the helpful and get these people out of Pakistan. They break the laws of the land, cause hardship on our health service, education and social services. At the same time their government is siding with India and do not want anything to do with Pakistan who has helped them all along.

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Gem Khan

Nov 01, 2016 03:54pm

She'll be treat according to law of the state. No one is above the law.

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Qamer

Nov 01, 2016 04:41pm

Let her go to her country, she suffered enough. Now that she is sick so she can live in peace for remaining of her life.

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rehan

Nov 01, 2016 05:54pm

She must be treated for her illness and sent back as per doctors advice. As She has been the bread winener for the family, she already has contributed towards services in Pakistan. Please treat her with respect and dignity as with any other citizen.

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Mian MA

Nov 01, 2016 08:30pm

She should be send out of Pakistan.

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sana-1

Nov 01, 2016 09:53pm

Since Afghanistan is a greater friend of india and both of them love each other, so we should help her going to india and get treatment there while getting their fake id...

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Mah

Nov 01, 2016 10:16pm

@The Right Left So True!! Its the poor, sick, elderly, widow and orphan children that get the short end of the stick in wars and that fate follow them even after the become refugees like she has been all her life.

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M.Saeed

Nov 01, 2016 11:19pm

There are accepted by the Pakistan Government figure of 1.4 million illegal Afghan refugees living with fake or no documents in Pakistan and Sharbat Gule is just one of them. Then why single her out and grill, especially when she is reported to be suffering from a terminal disease if not properly treated?

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Tariq

Nov 01, 2016 11:34pm

For majority of people born in the wrong place at the wrong time going through life, one day at a time must feel like a damnation. Anywhere else in the world, she would have been treated well, if for nothing else, then at least she represented a softer side of Pakistan with being on the front page of National Geographic. May god bless her with good health and better fortune.

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