`I will come before the public at the appropriate time,' retorts Ayesha - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Responding to Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik's charge that why she was not appearing in public on the issue of their 2002 marriage, Ayesha Siddiqui on Monday retorted that she would appear at the appropriate time. Interacting with the television channel Aaj Tak, Ayesha accused Shoaib of perpetrating a major fraud on her and her family. "Shoaib is converting the person that he married into Maha Apa. I have not given the wrong picture. I am not coming out in the open because I am diabetic. He (Shoaib) has signed the nikhanama," she said. Earlier, Malik, who is scheduled to marry tennis star Sania Mirza on April 15 in Hyderabad, on Monday said that he was in the city to clear his name vis-à-vis the alleged marriage with Hyderabad girl Ayesha Siddiqui , as he would not like to lose the respect that he had earned. Addressing a press conference with Sania this evening, Shoaib said: "I have not married the girl who goes by the name of Ayesha. I have never met her. I have met Maha Apa, and Apa in Islam means elder sister. I won''t apologise. I am not leaving the country, I am cooperating with the police here." "I would not like to lose the respect that I have earned. If you want to question the validity of the `so-called marriage'', go and ask the clergy. Ten years ago, I was 18-years-old. I now believe that I was trapped by Maha Apa. I am here to clear my name. The Siddiquis are doing this for cheap publicity. You people are from the media; I would like to ask why this Ayesha is not appearing in public? Why is she talking to television channels behind the scenes? I believe in God. I represent Pakistan. I am strong and believe I will see this through," Malik added. Sania said that she and Shoaib saw no reason to postpone the marriage. Shoaib said the fact that he was alone here, without his relatives, was proof enough of his innocence. "There is no reason to postpone the marriage. Shoaib has said there was no marriage. We believe him. We both come from respectable families, and obviously are not happy about this. We are looking forward to our marriage, to the best days of our lives," said Sania. Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik on Monday handed over his passport and mobile phone to an investigation team, which questioned him on a complaint filed by Mohammed Siddiqui father of his alleged first wife Ayesha. Hyderabad Police questioned Malik for over two hours at Sania''s house. Malik reportedly claimed his signature on the nikhanama was forged. Earlier, acting on Mohammed Siddiqui''s complaint, police asked Malik not to leave the city without their permission and also alerted immigration officials. Ayesha has alleged that she and Mailk are already married, and, he is marrying Sania without her consent. The Siddiqui family charged Malik with harassing Ayesha, cheating to marry another girl and accused criminal intimidation. A police team has also questioned the Siddiqui family at their residence, following an allegation of forgery levelled by Malik. Hyderabad police may ask Malik to undergo scientific tests.