Custody case: Court hands over seven-year-old to mother

Woman says she left home following abuse by drug-addict husband.

HAFIZABAD:

A seven-year-old boy was handed over to his mother on Wednesday after being recovered from his aunt’s house where he had been kept by his father.

Police said the child’s parents had separated a few months ago following frequent quarrels. They said the mother had taken the boy and her three daughters along with her to her parents’ home.

The decision was taken by a district and sessions judge on Wednesday after Shumaila Bibi, a resident of Chak Chattha, moved the court against her husband, Muhammad Siddique, saying that he had forcibly taken away their son from her. She alleged that Siddique was a drug addict and frequently beat her up. She said that he would tell her to get him money from her parents. When the abuse became unbearable, she said, she left home and went back to live with her parents.

To punish her, she said, Siddique kidnapped their son, Ghulam Mustafa, on April 30 and took him to his sister’s house, where he confined him. She said she had asked him several times to return her their son, but he had refused to do so. She said he beat her every time she went to ask for their son. She said she had also gone to her sister-in-law’s house, but was not allowed to see the child.

She them moved the court and sought her son’s recovery. She told the court that she feared for her son’s safety and that Siddique would hurt him.

District and Sessions Judge Syed Maroof Ahmed Ali had sought Siddique and the child before the court on Wednesday.

Appearing before the court, Siddique said he wanted his wife to return home. However, not satisfied with his arguments, the court directed the police to hand the child in the mother’s custody. The judge also directed the police to escort the woman and the child to her house.

Police said she had not filed a domestic violence complaint against her husband. They said it was their “personal” matter and they could not intervene until a complaint was made.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2012.