All clear for Shoaib-Sania wedding, Ayesha gets divorce

HYDERABAD - La’ affaire Sania-Shoaib-Ayesha ended abruptly Wednesday with the Pakistani cricketer sending divorce papers to Ayesha Siddiqui, who in turn agreed to withdraw the criminal complaint of cheating against him.

Shoaib Malik, who is set to wed Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza on April 15, had denied Hyderabad girl Ayesha’s claims that he had married her. He had admitted to a telephone wedding but said he had been shown the photograph of another woman.

After days of mudslinging, a compromise was reached with the intervention of elders of the Muslim community and representatives from the three families.

“Shoaib Malik has sent divorce papers to Ayesha Siddiqui,” Shams Babar, a family friend of the Siddiquis, told IANS.

“My daughter is relieved and she is very happy. Justice has been done,” Ayesha’s mother Farisa Siddiqui told reporters, adding that her daughter would now withdraw the case.

She said the compromise was reached without any compensation. Shoaib paid Rs.15,000 as monthly maintenance for three months as per Islamic law.

The surprising development comes two days after Ayesha filed a complaint with the police accusing Shoaib of cheating, harassment and criminal intimidation.

Shoaib, who married Ayesha over phone in 2002, was questioned by police on Monday and his passport seized for investigations.

Abid Rasool Khan, general secretary of the Andhra Pradesh Congress and a friend of both families, told reporters that Shoaib sent the divorce papers after advice by community elders. He said efforts for a compromise were being made for last few days as the community was getting a bad name due to the allegations between the two sides.