Geeta, the deaf and mute girl stuck in Pakistan for over a decade, should undergo a DNA test along with five Indian families which claim to be her guardian, her Indian counsel today said here even as he accused India of not extending cooperation for her quick repatriation.
Social worker and lawyer from Haryana, Momineen Malik, who filed a petition in a court here to seek the custody of the 23-year-old girl, told media that he wanted the DNA test done of five families in India, which have claimed that Geeta was their relative.
The blood test would help determine her parentage, he said as he claimed the Indian government is not cooperating with him and that he did not receive any help from New Delhi for Geeta’s quick repatriation.
Chief Justice Faisal Arab of the Sindh High Court (SHC) postponed hearing of Geeta’s case due to death of senior lawyer Abdul Hafeez Pirzada.
Malik filed an petition under Section 552 of Pakistan’s Criminal Procedure Code, which empowers the judge to compel restoration of abducted women and girls.
Geeta, who has been stranded in Pakistan for the last 13 years, is currently living under the care of the Edhi Foundation charity here.
Sources said as a goodwill gesture, Pakistan had made an offer to India of sending Geeta in a special plane along with its National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz when he was to travel to New Delhi to hold talks with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval on August 24.
The sources, however, claimed there was no response from India.
The NSA-level talks, the first-ever, were also called off, prolonging Geeta’s stay in Pakistan for an indefinite period.