Runaway Afghan couple: Family persuades woman to reconcile with first husband

Defendant’s meeting with her sister expected to help clear the situation.

PESHAWAR:

Maryam’s sister drove all the way from Kabul to see her and waited outside the court for hours, Maryam never showed up before the bench.  

The sister, who refused to disclose her name because of traditional norms, told The Express Tribune that Maryam was six years younger to her. She alleged that her sister had indeed married Abdul Rehman in 2006, adding that she was present at the wedding.

“She (Maryam) gave birth to Sana and Husna after marrying Rehman,” she said, adding that the relationship will be proven if DNA tests are conducted.

She said the family has talked to Haiwad’s (allegedly Maryam’s second husband who she eloped with) family, and they too have refused to support their marriage, which they claim has brought disgrace to both families.

Rehman’s attorney, Abdul Ghayas, said they had been trying to arrange a meeting between the sisters to help convince Maryam to return to her alleged first family.

One of Maryam’s stepsons, Samsor Khan, present outside the court room said that Maryam and his father (Abdul Rehman) married in 2006. “All villagers of Makroyan, 10,000 families, are witness to the marriage,” Khan claimed.

The day-to-day case hearing of the Afghan couple is underway; however, the family court has been unable to resolve the controversy of conjugal rights between two Afghan nationals over the Afghan woman.

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan took suo motu notice of the case in June. But on July 31, CJ Khan transferred the case to a family court with directions to decide matter in 40 days.

Despite the fact that one day is left to decide the case within the timeframe given by the PHC, results have still not been ascertained.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th, 2012.