Tribal justice: Woman allegedly kidnapped for marrying against family’s wishes

Arifa and Qaimuddin were going to sessions judge seeking protection from Arifa's family when she was abducted.

SUKKUR:

Ghotki police have yet to rescue a woman who was allegedly kidnapped from a place near Sarhad on Friday. According to sources, Arifa Mahar, a resident of Abdo near Chak, had married Qaimuddin Mahar, a resident of Ghotki, by free will a year ago.  

However, Arifa and Qaimuddin were on their way to the district and sessions court, Ghotki, along with a friend, Shabbir Shaikh, to file a petition seeking protection against Arifa’s relatives, who had threatened the couple of dire consequences. They were intercepted by men dressed in uniforms, who took Arifa and Shabbir with them. Qaimuddin lodged an FIR at the Sarhad police station against Arifa’s uncle Dhani Bux Mahar, brothers Abid Mahar and Arif Mahar, and Allah Wasayo Mahar, Abdul Hakeem Mahar, Arbelo Mahar, Mumtaz Mahar, Sikandar Mahar, Rasool Bux Mahar and four other men.

However, police did not arrest any of the suspects and were also unable to rescue Arifa and Shabbir till the filing of this report.

Qaimuddin told The Express Tribune that he had to marry Arifa in a court in Karachi, far from his in-laws who were opposed to their marriage. Abid and Arif, Arifa’s brothers, later asked him to divorce Arifa.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6^th, 2012.