Following the orders of the Additional District and Sessions Judge, Rawalpindi, a nikah (marriage) officiant was summoned to the courtroom in a forced one-year rape case, compelling the arrested accused to marry the 17-year-old victim, a working-class girl.
This court-mandated marriage took place nearly two years and 10 months after the case was first filed.
Following his acquittal in the rape case, the perpetrator divorced his wife in court, leaving the victim, Mahvash Shahzadi — who had been forced into marriage — homeless once again.
The husband later remarried her for a second time; however, their daughter, born before the marriage, had died, while their young son remains in the mother's care.
After the divorce, Mahvash approached both the courts and the police once more and also lodged a report with the Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's Complaint Cell. She had originally filed the case in October 2022 at Saddar Baironi Police Station, alleging rape under the pretext of a coerced one-year marriage. The accused, Muhammad Tariq, was arrested and remanded to jail.
During the bail proceedings, the Additional District and Sessions Judge observed that relief could be granted if the accused married the victim and produced the nikah certificate. The accused complied, and on November 14, 2022, in court and in handcuffs, he married the victim.
His brother, Police Constable Waseem Mithai, submitted the nikah form. The court ordered monthly maintenance of Rs10,000 and stipulated that in the event of divorce, the husband would pay Rs600,000 along with the mehr. The marriage was formally recorded in court, and bail was granted based on the nikah certificate.
Mahvash Shahzadi stated that, following his acquittal, her husband's behaviour had changed. A son had been born; however, the husband and his brother allegedly continued to harass her, using threats and violence to coerce her into relinquishing her mehr and maintenance.
On September 5, she was evicted from the house, and three divorce notices were sent to her via WhatsApp. Reports indicate that they are now threatening her and attempting to take her son.
The victim has lodged a formal complaint with the police and, following interference from the accused's brother, reported the matter to the Inspector General of Punjab Police and the Chief Minister's Complaint Cell, seeking protection for her child.
She has also approached the Family Court, which has issued notices summoning her former husband, his brother, and his sister-in-law.
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