A desperate mum who fled an arranged marriage in Pakistan has been left homeless and struggling to feed her family after claiming asylum in the UK.
Maheen Hayat suffered countless threats against her life after intentionally ending an arranged marriage in Islamabad.
She had been due to marry a 21-year-old man in an arranged Islamic ceremony when she was just 14 but fell in love with her first cousin, Aftab Khan, instead.
The former science teacher trainee, who is now 39, told BirminghamLive: "I didn't know what was happening, I was a child.
"It was a commitment and, when girl becomes woman, that's the departure, when the girl moves from parents' home to groom's home.
"I was confused. I started my studies to become a science teacher.
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"I worked hard at my education and I did my bachelor's [degree] and then I started a job teaching.
"That's when I met my first cousin, Aftab. He used to come over to my house.
"I fell in love with him and then I realised my parents tried to finish [arranged marriage] but, due to pressure, they couldn't.
"I didn't want an arranged marriage, I kept putting it back and back.
"I got threats against my life from the groom's family.
"They said we want departure or rukhsati, as it's traditionally known; we want our bride to come home.
"They kept saying after one week, after two weeks, we want a ceremony... I was feeling so much pressure."
In 2007 Maheen and Aftab decided "the only solution" was to flee Pakistan and to fly into London with everything they had.
Maheen arrived in the UK heavily pregnant and on a student visa - but soon struggled to get by.
She said: "Me and Aftab decided to get an Islamic marriage and decided that the only solution was to go out from the country."
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A series of delays and struggles followed for Maheen and squash coach Aftab, who worked part-time in a takeaway in London.
In 2012, their asylum application to stay in the UK as refugees was declined.
But they insisted their lives were at risk back home in Pakistan.
During the same year Maheen fell pregnant with her second child, Ra'id.
Maheen said: "We both couldn't work properly, we couldn't get work permits.
"[The Home Office said] I had to go back, because my asylum was not accepted, I came as a student.
"I wanted to stay in the UK. When my first child - Labeeb - turned seven, that's when I applied for a family visa."
Maheen, Aftab and their children were housed at a home in Edgbaston for six years by security firm G4S.
In December 2018, Maheen and Aftab were successfully granted indefinite leave to remain and obtained permanent residency in the UK.
They struggled to pay for their £900-a-month rent in Handsworth and were later ordered to leave their house.
Since February 12, have been living in a hotel in Walsall, paid for by Birmingham City Council.
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Maheen, whose sons are eight, five, and three, said: "We have applied for Universal Credit and are continuing to search for jobs.
"My husband can't speak English that great.
"One day, my husband went with a man and he said OK we will let you do paint with us, and all they gave him was £30 all day.
"I struggle to buy food, I have no money.
"We've been in a hotel for almost three months and we're waiting for a house now to become available.
"First [the council ] will put us in a temporary house or flat and then we must bid.
"It's hard, I'm borrowing from friends; £30 off one friend, £50 from another. I have got three kids to feed.
"The council is paying for the hotel and I get £192 child benefits per month.
"I try to be limited. It's not enough. Aftab is searching for a job. It's very hard you know."
The couple's dream is to one day run their own takeaway.
Maheen, who has applied for a number of school jobs, said: "We would like a free takeaway, fish and chips and curries to run.
"And the money we make we pay for it back. Anything like this.
"That's our dream, because I can do cooking and cleaning and he's a good cook and we can make money by running a takeaway.
Maheen said she is trying to "stay positive" about her situation.
"All of the time my kids say, 'Mum, why does this happen to us?'
"I say, 'Thank God, give thanks to Allah that you're eating, you are healthy, you are good, you have got shelter, you are not on the road, you sleep with full belly.'
"I keep them positive.
"Sometimes I become depressed, my husband is sensitive, panicking and saying what's happening and being fed up.
"I just say everything is happening so slowly and everything will be good, don't lose your hope.
"I'm only one giving them hope - and I love my family."
Birmingham City Council has been approached for comment.
