In a fresh twist, Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik has decided to sign the talaknama or divorce papers, conceding thereby that he was indeed married to Ayesha Siddiqui.
Shoaib all the while had been denying the nikaah and had challenged Ayesha to come out in the open.
The former Pakistan captain, who is in Hyderabad to marry tennis ace Sania Mirza, is accused of dumping Ayesha without a divorce because of her being overweight. He had earlier admitted to the nikaahnama but said it was invalid since he was cheated into marrying Ayesha. He claimed that Ayesha was not the girl whose photographs were sent to him by the Siddiqui family as Ayesha's.
Sources reveal that the compromise between the Mirza and Siddiqui families was reached late Tuesday night and Sohaib signed the divorce paper, apparently paving the way for his marriage with Sania in Hyderabad on April 15.
Siddiqui's lawyer Farooq Hassan confirmed the divorce, saying the case against Shoaib was too strong.
"This is true. A compromise has taken place this morning. The divorce papers have been signed by Shoaib. Divorce has taken place," Shams Babar, a friend of the Siddiqui family said.
Asked if the cases against Shoaib would be withdrawn after the latest development, he replied, "Yes, of course."
Mustafa Khan, a well-wisher of both families, told reporters that the Siddiqui family would withdraw the police case against Shoiab.
The Muslim community leaders are understood to have brokered the deal between the two sides, negotiations for which started last night and concluded this morning.
Abid Rasool Khan, a Congress leader and an important member of the community, said many Muslim leaders were involved in working out the compromise.
Sadiqua Babar, a friend of Ayesha and whose father was involved in working out the compromise deal, said it was a great relief that the marriage row has ended.
"He (Shoaib) signed it [divorce papers] this morning. Everything happened in an amicable manner."
"She (Ayesha) and all of us are relieved that finally it ended. Everyone is happy that the trauma is over," she said.
"My father (Shams) brokered the deal between the two families. There was no money involved or name involved. Clearing of her name was very important.
"Shoaib and Ayesha both signed the divorce papers," she added.
Ayesha claims Shoaib married her over phone and later dumped her due to her weight problems without giving a formal divorce and produced copies of the nikaahnama to support her claim.
Shoaib, on the other hand, maintained that he never committed himself to Ayesha, and he was sent photographs of a different lady during the relationship that grew over telephone conversations and Internet chats.
Ayesha had filed an FIR against the all-rounder alleging fraud and criminal intimidation, which led to his passport being confiscated by the Hyderabad police, which is investigating the case.
