Married couple faces life threats

They tied the knot in court after eloping

ABBOTABAD: A couple from a village in Galiyat, who solemnised a court marriage, has accused the girl’s family of threatening to kill them.

Nimra*, 19-year-old, who is a resident of Makol Payan told The Express Tribune she and Aslam*, who hailed from Sokot Kerikas village, wanted to get married. She added he asked her family for her hand in marriage, but they refused.



As a result, the couple decided to elope a few weeks ago and solemnised a court marriage. According to Nimra, they provided a copy of their nikahnama to Donga Gali police. However, on the one hand, the police was harassing Aslam’s family, while on the other her family was threatening to kill both of them.

Nimra said they were not even able to go to the court, fearing they would be attacked. They wanted to file a complaint under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which empowers the magistrate to record any statement made to him or her during the course of investigation or at any time before the enquiry or trial begins.

The couple said the girl’s family would be responsible if any harm was caused to them. They also demanded the IGP and chief justice of the Peshawar High Court to provide them protection.



Nimra belongs to the same village of Makol Payan where a 15-year-old girl was strangled and later her body was set on fire in a high-roof van over the decision of a local jirga on April 29. The girl was said to be punished for facilitating another girl from the same village to elope and marry in court of her own volition.

(*Names changed to protect identity) 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th, 2016.