Unique & unprecedented matrimonial promise

Today Friday 29^th June, 2012 above Pakistani couple will be staying in Room 306, Crowne Plaza, Farwania, Kuwait to commemorate their 27^th happy Wedding Anniversary. The matrimonial story began in Islamabad, Pakistan as Iqbal Hadi Zaidi then working as Administration Manager, EPIC Instruments Inc, Kuwait flew to Pakistan to marry a completely unknown compatriot Miss Suhail Fatima. Months back Iqbal had decided to marry on 30^th June 1985 hence Room 306, Holiday Inn, Islamabad (the only 5 star in the capital then) was booked so that wedding date matches with hotel room number. However, about a fortnight before his departure to Islamabad company chairman asked him to return 2 days earlier and he agreed to it. He phoned Holiday Inn, Islamabad to book room 286 or 296 if he marries on 28^th or 29^th instead but unluckily both the rooms were not available. He then compromised and married on 29^th June and stayed in room 306, Holiday Inn, Islamabad since after 12 hours it will be 30^th June which means there is 50% relationship between the marriage date and the hotel room but had he married on 28^th and stayed in room 306 then the two were miles apart in any case.

Iqbal on the wedding day named Suhail Fatima as Shireen though officially she is still Suhail Fatima and now she is known as Shireen in their families and friends alike. Iqbal who strongly believes and professes in individualism did not promise Shireen any gift on wedding anniversary which mostly husbands do globally rather on the contra he solemnly promised to do something which none had even thought of. He on his honor promised her that till our death, each year on 29^th June we will stay either jointly or individually as the case may be in room 306 Holiday Inn wherever we are. Today Iqbal is staying for 27^th consecutive year in the same hotel in the same room on the same date whereas Shireen will be staying for 26^th year with him. In 1991 when Iqbal was working as Business and Manpower Adviser, Pakistan Embassy, Kuwait he did not bring his family to Kuwait because here Iraqi forces had put oil wells on fire and he did not wish to expose his 3 years old daughter to smoke pollution but then 29^th June came and he wished to be with his family on their day but due to his diplomatic obligations he could not fly to Islamabad. On 29^th June, 1991 which was their 6^th Wedding Anniversary, he stayed all alone by himself in room 306, Holiday Inn, Kuwait whereas Shireen and his daughter Areej stayed in room 306, Holiday Inn, Islamabad and thus he maintained his lifelong matrimonial promise.

Last year on 29^th June, Mubasher TV (Arabic) interviewed the couple in the lobby and room and televised it live from the hotel marking their 26^th Wedding anniversary. KTV 2 (Eng) did the same and televised it in their weekly program called Week End Show.

TV One, the most popular TV channel of Indonesia commending lifelong matrimonial promise of Iqbal not only live telecasted him on 28^th February 2011 but paid cash too when he was alone visiting Jakarta.

On their Silver Wedding Anniversary on 29^th June, 2010 namely Al Jazeera and Al Rai made their films from the hotel and telecasted on their channels. Al Jazeera being international network had received so many calls from different countries showing great excitement and wanted to know more about the couple. Al Jazeera called Iqbal only to their office to prepare a report about them and air it. The anchor asked some hard questions like if God forbid what Iqbal will do on 29^th June if Shireen dies and he answered that he will still stay in room 306 Holiday Inn wherever he is but in tears and remembering the days when they were together. The interviewer asked what Shireen will do if Iqbal dies and he answered that she won’t be able to do alike.

Mr. Hani Kafafi, GM, Crowne Plaza & Director Operations, Northern Gulf greeted the couple in their Room 306 on their Silver Wedding Anniversary (29.6.2010) and presented a commemorative memento to mark their day. Other Hotel Executives also gifted very valuable items to them to share their happiness.

Samepersonssamedatesameroomsamehotel@hotmail.com and iqbalnshireen29junroom306holidayinn_mylifelongmatrimonialpromise@hotmail.com are the two email addresses which Iqbal has made themselves speak aloud about his exclusive entity.