Honour killing survivor wants to go home

A girl, who had contracted a marriage of her free will, told a court on Saturday that she wants to return home to her parents in Gujranwala.

Despite her wishes, the district administration has been directed to ascertain whether they face any threat if they return.

This was stated as a single-member bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard a case filed by a woman who had sought protection from the authorities in the federal capital after she was threatened by her family for marrying of her choice. Moreover, her husband remains a prisoner of his family.

During the hearing, the petitioner, who, along with her sister, has been living at a shelter in the federal capital for months now, said that they want to return home to their parents in Gujranwala.

At this, Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) Deputy Commissioner (DC) Hamza Shafqaat submitted his response to the court, stating that the girl’s parents have provided them assurances that they will protect their daughters, should they return.

The same has been assured of the petitioner’s husband as well, who remains captive in his native Lodhran.

IHC Chief Justice Minallah subsequently referred the matter to DC Shafqaat - who is also the district magistrate, authorising him to decide the matter.

The court further directed the official to ascertain whether the petitioner and her younger sister face no threat upon returning to their hometown.

Both sisters had fled their home in Gujranwala after their family tried to kill one of them for ‘honour’ after she contracted marriage against the wishes of her family while studying in Islamabad.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 26^th, 2020.