Legal aid sought on girl living with stepfather
Lahore High Court has sought legal assistance on whether a girl whose custody has been sought by her mother should be sent to live in her step-father's home.
Justice Farooq Haider was hearing a habeas corpus petition wherein the petitioner had sought custody of her daughter from her former husband, contending that she was not happy with her step-mother.
The judge directed the petitioner’s counsel Sultan Ali Dogar to come prepared to assist the court on how a young daughter could be sent to live in the house of a “ghair mehram” whom her mother had married. The petitioner’s counsel stated that his client’s husband was living in the United States and he had married her, so thete was no harm if her daughter lived with her.
The couple involved in the custody had two children when they separated. Later, both of them contracted second marriages.
The daughter contacted her mother, telling her that she did not want to live with her father as she was not comfortable with her step-mother.
While hearing the petition seeking custody of the girl, the court had directed the police to produce her.
The girl gold the court that she wanted to live with her mother. Police officials told the court that the girl’s father had submitted a written statement to the police station concerned that he had no objection if his daughter wanted to live with her real mother.
The court fixed the next proceedings on Friday and summoned the girl’s father.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 22nd, 2020.