Afghan teen resists forced marriage

Authorities have decided to deport a 16-year-old Afghan girl, Naushaba, and her mother back to Afghanistan after an attempted forced marriage in Rawalpindi failed.

Police said the girl was brought from Afghanistan by an Afghan national, Male Khan, through Quetta's Kuchlak route.

He intended to marry her to his brother Gul Khan while promising her parents employment. Naushaba's mother, Shahnaz Bibi, accompanied her.

The mother and daughter travelled on donkeys through mountainous paths to reach Rawalpindi, where they were hosted at Male Khan's residence on Church Road.

However, when introduced to Gul Khan, the girl refused marriage due to his old appearance and pressed her mother to return to Afghanistan.

Despite her refusal, Male Khan, along with relatives, attempted to solemnise a forced nikah by bringing a cleric.

Naushaba's protest drew neighbours, forcing the cleric to flee and refuse the marriage.

Locals immediately called police, after which Male Khan escaped while police took custody of the Afghan mother and daughter.

As they lacked legal travel documents, the duo was handed to the Deputy Commissioner's Afghan Cell for deportation.

They will be repatriated via Torkham Border within 48 hours.

Dhamiyal police registered a case and initiated legal action against those who attempted to smuggle and settle them illegally in Pakistan.

Officials added that the case highlights the vulnerability of undocumented migrants, particularly women and children, to exploitation and trafficking. They urged stronger community vigilance and cross-border cooperation to prevent such incidents in the future.

Repatriation halted

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday halted the process of repatriating 18 Afghan nationals and sought comments from the respondents.

The court served notices on the Ministry of Interior, NADRA, the DG Immigration, the FIA, and the police, and sought a response from them.

Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar has issued a written order on the petition of the Afghan nationals. Lawyers Adil Aziz Qazi and others appeared in the court on behalf of the petitioners.

The order said that on August 4, the authorities had cancelled the POR cards of the petitioners and ordered their return.

According to the lawyer, the petitioners belong to the family of the late Fazlur Rehman, who had applied for citizenship in 2008 after fulfilling all the legal requirements. According to the lawyer, no decision has been taken on the citizenship application yet.

The court issued notice to the parties and directed them to submit their comments on the next hearing on September 18.

Legal experts noted that the case could set an important precedent for Afghan families residing in Pakistan for decades, as it touches on issues of citizenship rights, refugee status, and the state's policy on long-term residents without permanent documentation.

With additional input from APP