KARACHI, July 21: Shaista Almani, who married Balakh Sher in the teeth of opposition from her tribesmen, left for London on Wednesday night, saying she and her husband were not safe in Pakistan.

Immigration officials at the airport told Dawn that the couple left for the United Kingdom aboard an Emirate's flight. Ms Almani and her husband had left their village, Pano Aqil, after their marriage, but were caught and brought back by their tribesmen.

A jirga ordered their separation. Sources quoted Ms Almani as saying that in London she would work with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement for the cause of Sindh.