Court allows Arzoo to go with parents

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday allowed an underage Christian girl, Arzoo Fatima, married to a 44-year-old Muslim man to go with her parents.

The girl’s parents had filed a petition over violation of the Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2013, demanding return of their daughter.

A two-member bench headed by Justice KK Agha asked Arzoo Fatima if she was happy with her parents. She said yes. The court questioned if there was pressure from anyone. “No, there is no pressure on me. I want to stay with my parents,” said Fatima. The court disposed of the petition and allowed her to say with her parents till she turns 18 and becomes an adult so as to take an independent decision.

Ali Azhar, a 44-year-old man had lured Fatima into marriage when she was only 13-year-old. Her parents had approached the Sindh High Court regarding the girl’s disappearance.

The girl was found and brought before the court per the court’s order. A medical examination conducted under court orders confirmed that she was underage.

Subsequently, SHC had sent Fatima to Darul Aman (Shelter Home) till the case was decided. Finally on Thursday, she was allowed to stay with her parents till she turns 18 and an adult to get married.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25^th, 2022.