Child custody: Custody battle continues between Humera Arshad, Ahmed Butt

Singer asked to bring son to court on September 30

LAHORE: The family court has fixed September 30 as the next date to hear the arguments in the case over the custody of singer Humera Arshad and Khalil Ahmad Butt’s son.

Both the parents filed complaints in the court against each other for not being able to meet their son.

It was said that when the boy, who is a minor, was handed over to his father, that latter would not let his mother see him while she did the same when she was given the custody.

Humera submitted that her five-and-a-half-year-old son Ali Muttaqeen Ahmad need to be looked after by his mother at such a young age, while Ahmed Butt complained that Humera was not available at home most of the time to be able to look after the boy.

Shooting complaints

The first petition was filed on September 2 in the family court by Ahmad Butt. The complaint was filed under Section 7 of the Guardian and Wards Act 1890 for the appointment of a guardian for Ali.

In his petition, Ahmed Butt stated that he married Humera on August 8, 2004. However, due to complications in their relationship, they broke off the marriage on June 23.

He said their son was a school-going boy, adding Humera was not interested in taking care of Ali.

Ahmed Butt alleged Humera to be a habitual drinker and would also smoke in front of their son. He requested the court to let him get Ali’s custody.

The court then directed the respondent, Humera, to not snatch the respondent from Ali Butt till the next date of hearing.

After that, Humera filed a habeas corpus petition in the district and sessions court, seeking to obtain custody.

In her petition, she stated her former husband used to beat her, adding he had also signed an agreement with her on June 23.

According to the agreement, she added, their son would first live with her and later she had to hand him over to Ahmed Butt, but the following day, on June 24, he snatched the son.

Humera alleged Ahmed Butt to be a drug addict, saying she did not want her son to be looked after by the father.

The boy was given to Humera, but Ahmed Butt again filed an application in a family court, seeking the custody. The court asked Humera to hand over the boy to Ahmed Butt for a day under the supervision of the bailiff of the court.

After that, Humera requested the court to dismiss Ahmed Butt’s petition filed under the guardians act.

To this, Ahmed Butt again filed an application, saying the boy had not attended school since September 7 due to which his future was in jeopardy. He stated he had asked Humera to send the boy to school, but she did not do so. He then again requested for the custody.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th, 2016.