Couple beaten up by woman’s family

LAHORE:

A married couple were beaten by the wife’s family on Tuesday shortly after the Lahore High Court rejected a kidnapping case against the husband.

Asma and Riaz of Hujra Shah Muqeem had married against the wishes of her parents. They had come to court to pursue their petition against a kidnapping and theft case registered against Riaz at the behest of Asma’s family.

Asma told Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik that she had married Riaz of her own free will and he had not kidnapped her nor stolen anything from her house. The judge allowed the girl to leave with her husband.

However, as the couple left the courtroom, they were set upon by both men and women from Asma’s family. The attackers kicked and punched the couple and tried to separate them. Members of Riaz’s family got involved and helped the couple flee the scene.

They were later treated for minor injuries at the LHC dispensary. Police officials on duty at the LHC witnessed the scene, but did not step in to break the fight.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14^th, 2012.