National Geographic’s famed ‘Afghan girl’ Sharbat Gula was handed over to the Khyber Agency administration for deportation after being discharged by Peshawar’s Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) on Tuesday.

Federal Investigation Agency officials arrested the 46-year-old Gula from her residence in Peshawar last month after she was found in possession of a forged Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC). She was initially moved to the Peshawar Central Prison after being handed a 15-day jail term, but was admitted to LRH last week after she was diagnosed with Hepatitis.

Talking to The Express Tribune on Tuesday, LRH Assistant Media Manager Asim said that the hospital discharged Gula around 12:45am. He added that she was handed over to the Jamrud tehsildar, who was accompanied by officials from the Afghan consulate, so that she can be deported.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 9th, 2016.