Sharif family’s girl marries ex-Indian commander’s grandson ???
Maryam Nawaz rebuffs news that Samiya is the daughter of Shahbaz Sharif
Daily Times
September 08, 2013
LAHORE: There was much buzz in the Indian as well as social media on Saturday regarding the marriage of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s alleged daughter and a Sikh named Kanav Pratap Singh – the grandson of Lt General (r) Prem Nath Hoon, a former Indian Army commander. Deccan Herald, an English-language daily in the Indian state of Karnataka, reported on Friday that two elite influential families on each side of the border, including one of Pakistan’s top political family currently in power, ceremoniously entered into a relationship by virtue of the marriage of their children in Chandigarh. (Deccan Herald since seems to have removed the news item from it's web-site)
The broadsheet reported that Khabija, the alleged daughter of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s younger brother Shahbaz Sharif, the chief minister of Punjab, entered into a wedlock with Kanv Pratap Singh, the grandson of Lt General (r) PN Hoon, who is well-known for his anti-Pakistan rhetoric and is believed to be an RSS ideologue. An impressive marriage ceremony reportedly took place during the day on Friday, while a gallant reception was arranged at a swanky five-star hotel in Chandigarh in the evening. The event was a testimony to the recognition and blend of cultures, identities and ideologies sans borders.
The newspaper quoted family sources as saying that Khabija is Shahbaz Sharif’s daughter from his third wife. “For reasons best known to the family, the welcome notice outside the venue read ‘Somya weds Kanv’ (sic),” the newspaper reported. “The high-profile reception witnessed a host of VVIP’s from the two nations. The list of invitees was carefully crafted and later pruned to make the event a close-knit wedding. Some Punjab MLAs were also present at the marriage,” it read. Deccan Herald also quoted sources as saying that both the bride and the groom had studied in the US.
Denial: Meanwhile, Hindustan Times reported that Kanav and Samiya Siddiq of Lahore tied the knot in a court. Clearing the rumours, the paper said that Kanav, 27, and Samiya, 26, had met in Dubai for the first time and fell in love. “Samiya is the daughter of Shazia Siddiq and Mian Muhammad Siddiq, while the Hoons are natives of Abbottabad in Pakistan,” the newspaper reported, and added that Kanav helps in his family’s business of cars dealership in Chandigarh’s Industrial Area.
"At the lunch organised on Friday at Taj Chandigarh, Sector 17, for close friends and relatives of the bride and groom, many guests from Pakistan were also in attendance. Prominent local politicians included Punjab MLAs Kewal Singh Dhillon, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi and Rana Gurjit Singh," it reported. The English daily said that though the bride and groom refused to talk to the media, Lt Gen Hoon came forth to clear the rumour that the girl belongs to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s family. “It is a lie. People should do their homework (before making such statements),” he was quoted as saying.
On getting a Pakistani bride for his grandson, Lt Gen Hoon remarked, "It is a good development that relations are being tied across the border. People across the border should meet often. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should talk to our prime minister."
Meanwhile, Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz rebuffed the so-called news that Samiya is the daughter of Shahbaz Sharif.
Love sans border woes
HT Correspondent,
Chandigarh, Sep 06, 2013
Cross-border bonhomie couldn’t get more pronounced. In Panchkula on Friday, Kanav Pratap Hoon, the grandson of Siachen hero Lt Gen Prem Nath Hoon (retd), tied the knot with Samiya Siddiq of Lahore, Pakistan, in a court marriage.
Kanav, 27, and Samiya, 26, had met in Dubai for the first time and fell in love. Samiya is the daughter of Shazia Siddiq and Mian Muhammad Siddiq while the Hoons are natives of Abottabad in Pakistan. Kanav helps in his family’s business of Hyundai dealership at Chandigarh’s Industrial Area. At the lunch organised on Friday at Taj Chandigarh, Sector 17, for close friends and relatives of the bride and groom, many guests from Pakistan were also in attendance. Prominent local politicians included Punjab MLAs Kewal Singh Dhillon, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi and Rana Gurjit Singh.
Though the bride and groom refused to talk to the media, Lt Gen Hoon came forth to clear the rumour that the girl belongs to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s family. “It is a lie. People should do their homework (before making such statements),” he said. On getting a Pakistani bride for his grandson, Lt Gen Hoon remarked, “It is a good development that relations are being tied across the border,” and added, “People across the border should meet often. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should talk to our prime minister. Recently, they had talked about a demographic change being introduced in Rajouri [a district in Jammu].”
Hoon said “whosoever is living in India is an Indian,” and that “giving respect and talking are two different things.” The former commander of Indian Army’s Western Command, Lt Gen Hoon was heading 15 Corps regiment when India took over the highest battlefield in the world, Siachen. Operation Meghdoot was the codename of the military exercise undertaken to capture Siachen and launched on April 13, 1984. Till today, Pakistan lays claim on the glacier.