Man booked for marrying married woman

Cleric who solemnised marriage has also been nominated in FIR


Arsalan Altaf July 03, 2016
Cleric who solemnised marriage has also been nominated in FIR.

ISLAMABAD: Police have booked a cleric, and two others, for solemnising marriage of a married woman in Bhara Kahu.

Khurram Riaz, the complainant, told the police that Hafiz Abdul Kareem solemnised marriage of her wife* to another man, identified as Sher Nawaz.

Police have registered a case against the cleric, Nawaz and another man Muhammad Yunus, who Riaz said was also involved in the matter.

Though the incident took place on May 22, police lodged an FIR only on July 2.

Sub-Inspector Mushtaq Ahmed, who is investigation officer for the case, said they had registered the case but had made no arrests yet.

He said the woman, who was between 22 and 25 years of age, had a son from her first marriage.

The suspects have been booked under Section 494 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which bars a person who has a living husband or wife from marrying another person.

A violation can be punished with imprisonment for up to seven years and a fine.

Meanwhile, Koral police are also looking for a man who has allegedly married an already married woman.

Police had booked Sajid Safeer on June 11 for allegedly “enticing and taking away” a married woman* on the complaint of the woman’s brother-in-law*.

The two allegedly got married a few days later, and the suspect sent a photo of the nikah nama (marriage certificate) to the complainant on his mobile phone.

ASI Shakeel Ahmed, investigation officer for the case, said though the nikah nama had been made part of the case record, its authenticity had not been established as yet.

Police found out that Tazeen Hussain, Safeer’s younger brother, signed the nikah nama as a witness and arrested him on June 22.

Currently, he is in Adiala Jail on judicial remand.

Koral SHO Abdur Rauf Kiani said police were on the lookout for the suspect.

He said authenticity of the nikah nama that suspect had sent had not yet been established.

Even if the second nikah nama was original it would have no value and the first one would be considered the only legal marriage certificate, he said.

*NAMES WITHHELD TO PROTECT VICTIMS’ IDENTITY

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4th, 2016.

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