Sania beside Shoaib

I'M WITH SHOAIB: Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, standing next to her would-be husband Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, makes a point to media outside her residence at Banjara Hills in Hyderabad yesterday.Photo: AFP

Holding a joint press conference in Hyderabad on Monday, Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik called upon Ayesha Siddiqui to clear the air on the alleged marital dispute between both of them and not to indulge in cheap publicity.
Sania backed her would-be husband former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik: "No reason for the marriage to be postponed. The marriage will take place on April 15, if there is any change we will inform you.
"I am standing here by my future husband to clear his name. All our well-wishers are shocked by this. The entire drama has left a very bad taste in our mouths. Shoaib never misled me or any members of my family. There was never a marriage so there is no question of divorce. We are well aware of what the truth is."
Shoaib, whose passport was taken away by police earlier in the day, said he will not leave India till he clears his name and that he was being emotionally blackmailed by Ayesha who claims to have married him in 2002.
Shoaib was questioned at Sania's house this morning by a team of police officials who took his passport and his mobile phone and alerted immigration authorities after asking him not to leave India.
"I'm here for the marriage and to clear my name. I'm not leaving the country. Inshallah, I'll clear my name. I have no objections [to police taking the passport] and I'm cooperating with the police and Indian government. I have got respect for the authorities and I will do everything to clear my name," Shoaib said.
SHOAIB WAS TRICKED INTO MARRIAGE
Though police did not disclose much about their investigations in the case registered on the basis of the complaint filed by Ayesha's father MA Siddiqui, officials said Shoaib told them during questioning that he was tricked into the marriage.
Asked about the allegations by Ayesha, who claims she was pregnant through Shoaib, he said, "I just want to ask something. I don't know her exactly why she is making these allegations behind the camera. Where is she? Ten years back I was 18 years old. Find out her age."
He said first she has to prove (the marriage) in a court of law but maintained that the 'nikahnama' was invalid. Better leave the issue to courts, he said.
AYESHA HAD A MISCARRIAGE?
Ayesha on Sunday claimed she was pregnant at one point of their marriage. The pregnancy ended in a miscarriage, she said in a telephonic interview.
She however refused to give details of when she had become pregnant and when and where she had the miscarriage, only saying that her gynaecologist was a certain Dr Fatima in Hyderabad. The doctor could not be traced, there being over a dozen of them in the city by that name.
Both he and Sania said they were from respectable families with the tennis star adding that "to see my future husband like this [answering questions about marriage] is painful for both the families".
Shoaib also cleared his stand in front of media stating: "I will not apologise to Ayesha. She wants cheap publicity. She is just making statements behind the camera. Wouldn't like to lose respect I have earned. Ask Ayesha to come out and let the people decide what is wrong and what is right."
Shoaib's Delhi-based lawyer Ramesh Gupta said he had no apprehensions about the cricketer getting arrested in India.
"Shoaib's passport and mobile have been seized by police. We have not decided on seeking an anticipatory bail yet and we have no apprehension that he will be arrested," Gupta said.
ADMIT, APOLOGISE AND MOVE ON
Meanwhile, setting terms for Shoaib, the Siddiquis on Monday asked Shoaib to come out clean and tender a public apology to Ayesha.
The family said if Shoaib agrees to divorce Ayesha, they will drop the case against him. The Banjara Hills police, who quizzed both Shoaib Malik and the Siddiquis Monday, said a case under Sections 420 (cheating), 498-A (dowry harassment) and 506 (criminal intimidation) has been booked against Shoaib.
A close friend of the Siddiquis, Dr Shams Babar, spoke to reporters after the police were handed over proof of Shoaib-Ayesha wedding, along with their lawyer Waliur Rehman.
Citing that the duo met 14 times ever since their marriage, Babar said, "We have given enough evidence to the police that proves that Shoaib did marry Ayesha and she is the cricketer's first wife. We cannot divulge details of the same now, unless the police give us a go ahead. However, we have proof that Shoaib and Ayesha met 14 times. They even lived together for few days in Dubai. But Shoaib has been denying that he met her all the while."
PAK GOVT TO HELP SHOAIB
Meanwhile, Pakistan government said it will extend all assistance to Shoaib.
It said it was in touch with Indian authorities in connection with the police complaint filed against Shoaib by the Indian woman.
Foreign office spokesman Abdul Basit told the media that the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi was in contact with Indian authorities and had asked them to share information on the FIR filed against Shoaib in Hyderabad.
"We will give Shoaib all the assistance he requires. We will proceed in the best interests of Shoaib," Basit said.
BRING THE BRIDE HOME: AFRIDI
Another report from Lahore says: Pakistan's T20 captain Shahid Afridi Monday hoped that his beleaguered teammate would tide over the legal storm caused by a past affair gone wrong and bring his bride home.
"Since he has gone to India he must now bring his bride home," Afridi said.
SHOAIB'S FAMILY MAY CHANGE TRAVEL PLANS
Meanwhile, alarmed by the development in Hyderabad where Shoaib had his passport seized by the police, his family is now considering altering plans to travel to India on Wednesday to attend the Pakistani cricketer's marriage with Sania.
A close relative of Shoaib's family said that they have contacted senior Pakistani government officials and the high commission in New Delhi for help and was considering changing their travel plans.
"Certain forces in India have become active to stop this marriage at any cost," the relative alleged.
(Sources: Times News Network, PTI, Times of India, The Hindu)