Shoaib Malik-Sania Mirza: Pakistan Supports Shoaib's Marriage, Says S.M. Qureshi

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that the country supports cricketer Shoaib Malik amidst the controversy surrounding his marriage with tennis star Sania Mirza, and he has personally directed Pakistan's High Commissioner to India, Shahid Malik, to keep a tab on the situation and collect all information on the case.

Shoaib was quizzed for over two hours and his passport was also seized by the Hyderabad police on Monday following a case of fraud and cheating being filed against him by Ayesha Siddiqui, the girl who claims to be the first wife of the former Pakistan skipper.

"Shoaib Malik is a player of our team and we are proud of him," The News quoted Qureshi, as saying.

Responding to a question, Qureshi said : "We pray for Malik on his marriage decision."

Earlier, talking to reporters before leaving for India, Shoaib's brother-in-law, Imran Zafar Malik, urged people to pray for Shoaib and help him come clean from the muddle surrounding his wedding.

"People should pray to Allah to give Shoaib respect, if he is truthful," Imran said.

Meanwhile, Pakistani traders have also come out in support of the troubled cricketer urging the government to take notice of the 'humiliating' treatment being meted out to Shoaib in India.

Pakistan Traders Action Committee chairman Siddiq Memon has threatened to launch a country-wide protest over the issue.

Memon said that Indian goods would be boycotted at trade centres if any action was taken against the cricketer.

"The Indian Government should provide security to Shoaib and remove the hurdles being created ahead of his wedding. Otherwise, Indian goods available at trade centres would be set on fire," Memon said.