ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday disallowed two requests from family members on granting a meeting with Muslim female converts, Rinkle Kumar (Faryal) and Dr Lata (Hafsa Bibi) on Tuesday.
The two women, embroiled in much publicised forced conversion cases, currently staying at a shelter house in Karachi under court orders of March 26, passed with the view to enable them to take a decision for their future independently without any undue pressure.
A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice (CJ) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Tariq Parvez dismissed applications moved by Naveed Shah, Kumari’s alleged husband, and Dr Lata’s parents.
The CJ though refused to accept the requests, saying no one was allowed to meet the girls, telling their counsels that the main case would be taken up on April 18.
In earlier proceedings, the bench had observed that although the women had signed a Nikkah but there were allegations of forced conversion, adding that apparently there was a lot of pressure upon both girls from their parents and courts, hence the bench decided that the women required time, to take a decision for their future without any pressure.
The bench allowed the girls to stay for further three weeks in the shelter home called 'Panah', owned by Majeeda Rizvi, a senior lawyer.
The bench was hearing a constitutional petition moved by the Pakistan Hindu Council.
Dr Ramesh Kumar, patron-in-chief Pakistan Hindu Council, had moved the petition asking for recovery ofthree females belonging to the Hindu community, including Rinkle daughter of Nandlal (Mirpur Mathello),Dr Lata daughter of Dr Ramesh (Jacobabad) and Asha (Larkana).
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CJ can raise the respect for the PSC in local and international arena by giving a just verdict in the best interest of the girls. The decision should not only be seen as just but should also appear that a justice has been done. Decision should be such that it should be a landmark and prevent such cases from happening again.