A Pakistani court today ordered the deportation of Sharbat Gula, National Geographic’s iconic green-eyed ‘Afghan Girl’, back to her war-torn homeland for using fake ID cards to stay in this city.
Gula, who was immortalised after her haunting picture taken at a refugee camp in Pakistan in 1985 was carried by the magazine on its cover and became a symbol of her country’s wars, was arrested last week from her home here and faces deportation as early as Monday.
A special anti-corruption and immigration court in Peshawar ordered Gula’s deportation to Afghanistan after serving a 15-day jail sentence besides slapping a fine of 1,10,000 rupees (USD 1,100).
Gula, who was dubbed as ‘Mona lisa of Afghan war’, was arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on October 26 from Peshawar for alleged forgery of a Pakistani Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC).
The court issued the verdict after the accused pleaded guilty to the charges, Gula’s lawyer Mubashir Khan said.
“She has served about nine days in jail already and will remain imprisoned for six more to complete her sentence,” he said.
The fine was also paid so she will be deported from Pakistan at the end of her sentence, he added.
Gula, now in her 40s, was being deported under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act 1946.
Following the court’s verdict, Afghan ambassador Omar Zakhilwal said: “With utmost delight, I announce that Sharbat Gula is now free from the legal troubles she endured over the past couple of weeks.