Arrested over marriage: PHC orders release of Kurram resident

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court ordered on Thursday the release of a Khyber Agency resident who was being held by the assistant political agent for marrying a woman of his choice in Dubai. The division bench of Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel and Justice Qaiser Rasheed was informed by Advocate Malik Nasruminallah, who was representing petitioner Afsheen Bibi, that his client married Irfanullah in Dubai. He said the couple came to Pakistan with cash and jewellery to buy a house. He argued Irfan’s family visited the couple and took the cash and jewellery. He told the bench Irfan’s relatives were unhappy over the union and called him to Bara to end the marriage. When he refused, they held him captive and handed him over to the assistant political agent. Nasruminallah informed the bench Irfan was being illegally held by the official and requested his release. The court accepted the plea, ordered Irfanullah’s release and disposed of the habeas corpus application.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 15^th, 2016.