Ajeeb and Yasmeen went to court as they want to quash an FIR lodged by her father Manzoor Ahmed at Ranipur police station under section 365-B of the Pakistan Penal Code which deals with charges of kidnapping to commit Zina.
“I was not abducted by anybody and I married Ajeeb out of my own free will after completing all legal formalities,” she told Justice Maqbool Baqar and Justice Imam Bux Baloch.
The bench took up the matter in chambers because of its urgency. The court had earlier adjourned the hearing of all cases as a senior lawyer passed away in the morning but Ajeeb and Yasmeen had pressed for a hearing as they have been declared karo-kari and could be killed if their petition was not heard and they were not granted protection.
The bench later asked the investigating officer of the case to record Yasmeen’s statement. According to documents, she is about 15 years old and claims to be six months pregnant. The bench held that she has reached puberty and thus can legally live as she wishes.
The bench also directed the investigating officer to submit his report before the trial court which would decide the case the next day. Till then the court restrained the police from arresting the couple. It also ordered Preedy police station to provide them security and an escort till a place of their choice.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 25th, 2011.
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