Kidnap, theft complaint: Court allows woman to go with ‘same-sex’ husband

Family claims groom was a woman disguised as man.

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court Tuesday quashed a kidnap and theft complaint filed by family of a free-will marriage bride whose family claimed that the groom was a woman disguised as a man.

Ayesha Butt and Shahzad Butt had filed the petition seeking cancellation of an FIR, registered the former’s family accusing by Shahzad of kidnap and theft. Ayesha said that she had married Shahzad on her free will a few months ago.

She said he had neither forced nor kidnapped her. She said her family had registered a false FIR against her husband and sought its cancellation.

At a previous hearing, the woman’s uncle, Arif Butt, had claimed that Shahzad was a woman. He said her real name was Sonia Butt. He alleged that Shahzad was part of a criminal gang who trapped naive women and forced them into prostitution.

He also presented a birth certificate and a school leaving certificate in support of his contention. Arif Butt had requested the court to order Shahzad’s medical examination.

Justice Manzoor A Malik, however, directed the police officials concerned on Monday to cancel the kidnap and theft FIR in the light of the woman’s statement and told her family to approach a Family Court to establish other allegations.

He later ordered the court security to escort the couple so that they may not be harmed.

Talking to the media later, the couple denied the allegations.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 19^th, 2012.