New Delhi, 18 January 2025: Seema Haider, a Pakistani woman who illegally entered India in 2023 with her four children to join her online lover, Sachin Meena, is now at the center of a custody battle. Her first husband, Ghulam Haider, has appealed to the Indian government, seeking assistance to meet his children and reclaim custody.
In May 2023, Seema, 32, originally from Jacobabad in Pakistan’s Sindh province, traveled to India via Nepal with her children, all under 7 at the time. She later garnered widespread attention in July when Indian authorities discovered her living in Greater Noida with Sachin, 27, whom she claims to have married. The couple had reportedly connected in 2019 while playing the online game PUBG.
Both Seema and Sachin were arrested in July 2023—Seema for illegal entry and Sachin for harboring her—but were subsequently released on bail.
Haider, who was working in Saudi Arabia when his wife left, recently issued a video message directed at External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. “I appeal to the Indian minister for justice,” he said, accusing Seema of forcibly altering their children’s names and religion.
Prominent Pakistani human rights activist Ansar Burney confirmed Haider’s efforts to pursue custody. “In February 2024, we appointed an Indian lawyer, Ali Momin, and sent a power of attorney to begin legal proceedings,” Burney stated, though the status of the case remains uncertain.
Haider claimed the case has stalled in court, stating, “I haven’t seen my children since 2023.” He alleges the children remain trapped in India due to Seema’s actions.
Seema, who asserts she has embraced Hinduism, previously told the BBC she would not return to Pakistan. Her Instagram posts indicate she is now expecting a child with Sachin.
