Abduction case: Man married his step daughter, court told

Kidnapping accused denies ever being wed to mother.

LAHORE:

Additional District and Sessions Judge Rai Muhammad Ayub Khan Marth on Wednesday directed a police investigator to check a couple of nikahnamas that showed that a man had married his step daughter.

Muhammad Usman Shaukat, who is accused by Rehana Kausar of abducting her daughter Zobia Bibi, stated in his pre-arrest bail application that Zobia had married him by choice and there were no grounds for an abduction case.

Zobia Bibi appeared in court on Wednesday and told the judge that she had married by choice and produced a nikahnama. Her mother told the court that she too was married to Shaukat and presented a nikahnama to this effect. The judge read both documents and expressed astonishment.

Kausar’s lawyer submitted that neither the law nor Islam allowed a man to marry a mother and daughter and Shaukat should be punished. Shaukat denied ever being wed to Kausar.

The judge then directed the Nishtar Colony investigation officer to look into the nikahnamas, complete his investigation of the case and report to the court on November 27.

According to the FIR, Shaukat forced his way into Kausar’s house on October 1 and took away her daughter, as well as a motorcycle, Rs10,000 in cash and jewellery.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th, 2012.