Hamida Banu, a 75-year-old Indian woman, has been reunited with her family after spending 22 years in Pakistan, a harrowing journey that began with a deceptive job offer in 2002. Her return to India comes 18 months after her grandson recognized her in a YouTube video, leading to a cross-border effort to confirm her identity and facilitate her return.
Trafficked Under False Promises
Ms. Banu, who had been supporting her family as a cook in the Gulf, was approached by a recruitment agent offering a job in Dubai. She paid 20,000 rupees ($250) for the arrangement, only to find herself trafficked to Hyderabad, Pakistan, where she was held for three months.
Over the years, she married a street vendor in Karachi and lived a life of isolation. Despite her husband’s support, Ms. Banu described her time in Pakistan as being “a living corpse,” cut off from her loved ones and unable to return home.
The Video That Changed Everything
Her story came to light in July 2022 when Pakistani social media activist Waliullah Maroof interviewed her for his YouTube channel. Indian journalist Khalfan Shaikh shared the video, which eventually reached Ms. Banu’s family in India.
In an emotional video call arranged by Mr. Shaikh and Mr. Maroof, Ms. Banu was reunited with her family virtually. Her daughter Yasmin’s questions of “Where were you?” were met with a tearful response: “I didn’t stay here willingly. I missed you all so much.”
A Long Journey Home
After her identity as an Indian citizen was confirmed by both Indian and Pakistani authorities in October, Ms. Banu was finally allowed to cross the Wagah-Attari border and return home. Reflecting on her ordeal, she said, “I was deceitfully taken to Pakistan by promising Dubai. I tolerated [the separation] for 23 years.”
Speaking to reporters, she expressed joy at reuniting with her family but emphasized her desire not to burden them: “I have brothers, sisters, children there [in India], but I don’t want to be a burden on anyone.”
A Reunion Marking Hope and Resilience
Ms. Banu’s return underscores the resilience of those separated by circumstance and the power of modern technology in bridging divides. While she begins a new chapter with her family, her story serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers of human trafficking and the enduring hope for reunion, even after decades of separation.
