Common sense law: Gunpoint marriage declared void

LAHORE:

Rao Ijaz, Family Judge on Friday declared void a marriage allegedly performed at gunpoint. Asima Shehzadi had filed a suit for annulment of marriage against Muhammad Azhar; she said that Azhar—who is her cousin—forcedly made her marry him on April 28, 2012.

None of the defendants were present. Shehzadi’s counsel said Zubaida Bibi, a sister of Shehzadi, was married to one of Azhar’s brothers. He said Shehzadi’s family was under pressure to marry off her to Azhar. He said Shehzadi and her family had gone to Khanewal to attend the marriage of another cousin.

Azhar’s father asked for Shehzadi’s hand for his son. When Shehzadi’s mother refused, Azhar’s family detained Shezadi and her family. Azhar’s father threatened to kill Shehzadi and get his other son to divorce Zubaida Bibi, if Shehzadi did not marry Azhar. Shehzadi was then forced at gunpoint to marry him.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 8^th, 2013.