New to marriage, and religion: Court sides with the ‘threatened’ couple

Asks the police to protect the newlyweds.

RAWALPINDI:

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed the Rawalpindi city police officer (CPO) to provide protection to a newlywed couple that is receiving threats from their families after recently converting to Islam.

Justice Abdul Waheed Khan of LHC Rawalpindi bench further directed the head of the district police to make sure that the couple is not harassed by the police. The family of the girl had earlier filed a case of abduction against her husband, stating that the she was forced into marriage.

Shaifa* who married Imran Waris after both embraced Islam, had approached the high court seeking protection from New Town Police and her father, brother and other relatives.

“I married Imran on July 23 after both converted to Islam from Christianity on July 22,” said the 21-year-old Shaifa in her petition filed through Advocate Muhammad Azam Khan. “My steps have angered my parents and relatives who had lodged a false complaint alleging Imran had abducted me. Whereas, I have contracted the marriage with my free-will without any pressure,” she had stated.

Citing station house officer (SHO) New Town Police, her father, brother and three other male relatives as respondents, the petitioner said she wanted to live with her in-laws and to have happy married life but her relatives and area police have been harassing both herself and her in-laws.

The petitioner girl has attached all the legal documents with her petition showing the couple has embraced Islam and entered into Nikah. She also got her statement recorded before the court of area magistrate asserting she wanted to live with her husband.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 2^nd, 2011.