The woman, Gao Feng, arrived in Islamabad last week by road from China via Gilgit on a three-month visit visa. The 21-year-old was picked up by 18-year-old Javed, a resident of Bajaur tribal district bordering Afghanistan, they said. Javed took the woman to his maternal uncle’s home in Samarbagh tehsil of Lower Dir district instead of his hometown due to the security situation in Bajaur.
According to police, both were in contact through Snapchat for the last three years and the friendship developed into a love affair. Gao married Javed on Wednesday after converting to Islam and her new name is Kiswa, the man’s maternal cousin Izzatullah Khan said.
Izzatullah said Javed is pursuing a Computer Science course at Bajaur Degree College and will do a court marriage with Gao in China. While Gao will return to China in a few days, Javed will stay back.
During Gao’s stay in Samarbagh, police said she was provided full security. However, she is not being provided free movement due to Muharram and security concerns in the area.
The news of the Chinese girl travelling to Pakistan for the pursuit of love came at a time when in a similar incident, a 34-year-old married woman Anju from Rajasthan travelled to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to meet her 29-year-old Pakistani friend Nasrulla whom she she met on Facebook. Anju later married Nasrulla.