IHC asks ministry to pass order on Uzma’s plea

Issues notice to Ministry of Foreign Affairs for May 22


Correspondent May 13, 2017
Issues notice to Ministry of Foreign Affairs for May 22.

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to pass a speaking order on applications of an Indian woman who came to Pakistan and allegedly married a Pakistani man but now wishes to get duplicate travel documents from the ministry to return to India.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani directed the ministry to pass the order on the applications of Uzma within five days. The court also issued notice to the ministry for May 22 while hearing her petition.

Uzma through her counsel Barrister Rubnawaz Noon filed the petition before the IHC seeking court's help to return to India, exemption from police reporting and security from Islamabad to Wagah.

Indian diplomat caught taking picture of IHC judge during hearing

Piyush Singh, the first secretary at the High Commission of India in Islamabad, also accompanied the counsel and appeared before the court. She had made the secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs and her alleged husband, Tahir Khan, respondents in the petition.

When the case was taken up, the counsel informed the court that the petitioner was currently residing in the Indian High Commission and wishes to go back to see her daughter, from her first marriage, who is suffering from thalassemia.

Noon informed the court that the petitioner apprehends arrests at the hands of local police and, therefore, she should be given exemption from police reporting.

Husband claims Indian wife knew about his first marriage

He, however, could not satisfy court when Justice Kayani enquired under what law exemption could be given and an order could be passed to provide her duplicate documents without hearing the other side.

Justice Kayani remarked that the petitioner has a valid visa and will not be arrested just because she is an Indian citizen. The counsel revealed that “Uzma is granted visa to the extent of Buner only.”

In the petition, Uzma claimed that Tahir ‘sexually assaulted’ her ‘in connivance with his friends’. She added that she was intimidated and compelled to marry with Tahir, who is already married with someone else and has four children.

Indian woman claims she was duped, forced to marry Pakistani at gunpoint

“Respondent No.2 [Tahir] on gunpoint got the signatures of petitioner on Nikahnama,” the counsel stated, “[Tahir] married with the petitioner forcefully and without her free will.”

Talking to the media at the IHC on May 11, Tahir claimed that his first wife was aware of his second marriage and that Uzma also knew about his first marriage.

He had also claimed that he has Whatsapp messages where Uzma asked him not to disclose details of his first marriage and also to exaggerate details of his educational qualification if her brother asked.

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