Converted girl sent back to Darul Aman

JUI-F leaders threaten ‘serious consequences’ if court sends her back to parents

JACOBABAD: A newly-converted girl has been sent back to Darul Aman, Larkana, after giving a statement before a court on Thursday.

Aliza alias Mehak Kumari told Judge Ghulam Ali Kanasiro that she wanted to go back to her parents.

Amid tight security, the girl, her husband Ali Raza Solangi and her parents were produced before the judge. Solangi and the parents were allowed to meet her for 15 minutes.

While recording her statement, Kumari said that her previous statement in court had been an ‘emotional’ one, adding that she wanted to go home with her parents. She had previously told the court she wanted to accompany Solangi.

The court sent her back to Darul Aman, Larkana. The verdict is expected to be read on Friday (today).

Many of the major roads of the city were cordoned off, as Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl leaders held a press conference. Maulana Abdul Jabbar Rind, Maulana Nasrullah, Hamadullah Ansari and other religious leaders warned the authorities of serious consequences if Kumari was sent back to her parents. They also said they would take the case to the apex court and the Council of Islamic Ideology if the verdict went ‘against Shariah.’

Kumari was allegedly abducted from Nimani Sanghat Muhalla, Jacobabad, on January 15. Her father, Vijay Kumar, filed an FIR claiming that Solangi had abducted and married her. He added that Kumari was 15 when she was kidnapped. 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7^th, 2020.