Asha Patil readies to return home

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities have released the brother-in-law of Asha Patil, the Mumbai woman allegedly harassed by her in-laws after her husband’s death, and also ordered her repatriation to India as early as possible.

Interior ministry sources in Islamabad said Asha’s police officer brother-in-law Yasin Chattha was granted interim bail by a local magistrate on Thursday, but only after a written assurance that his family would neither harass Asha nor prevent her from going to India.

The in-laws had returned Asha’s jewellery and passport and the Pakistani authorities were making arrangements for her return to Mumbai. She has been also provided police protection at the Hasil Pur residence of her husband Khaled Mumtaz .

Asha and Khaled had gone to attend a marriage where Khaled suffered a massive heart attack and died. Two days earlier, the couple had come to know that Asha was two months pregnant.

Police circles in Hasilpur say the bone of contention between Asha and her in-laws is the custody of the yet-to-be-born baby. “Khaled’s family wants Asha to give birth in Pakistan so that they can keep the child, while Asha wants to return to India forever.

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