Murder on her mind?: Armed woman held on LHC premises

She was there to attend a hearing in connection with her niece’s elopement.

LAHORE: A woman visiting the Lahore High Court on Monday was arrested after the security staff recovered a loaded pistol and two magazines with bullets from her handbag at the checking point. She and her husband Aslam were there to attend a hearing in connection with their niece who had married for love. 

Abida Bibi, a resident of Shadbagh, was handed over to Old Anarkali police. Police said they were interrogating her as to why she was carrying a weapon on court premises. Police said Abida Bibi’s niece Shazia had eloped with a man a month ago and had returned to her parents after they promised her they would marry her off “properly”. Police said they later refused and Shazia’s husband filed a petition in the LHC seeking her recovery.

Security guards at the checking point said Bibi first resisted a physical search and refused to allow them to check her bag. However, policewomen at the gate went through her bag and found a .30-bore pistol and two magazines with bullets. They said Abida Bibi claimed that she had a licence for the weapon and was carrying it for her own safety. She said she did not know it was illegal to bring a gun to court.

Police security has been tightened around the Lahore High Court to avoid any untoward incidents.

In June 2013, two suspects in a murder case were shot dead on the sessions court premises and two others were wounded by their rivals. In May this year, a 25-year-old woman was bludgeoned to death allegedly by her father and two brothers on her way for a hearing at the LHC.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 30^th, 2014.