The fake husband: Case registered against lawyer over illegal nikah nama

Suspect already in jail for allegedly murdering the girl’s brother in July.

HARIPUR: A criminal case was registered against a lawyer, nikah khwan and false witnesses for their role in preparing a fake nikah nama, the police said on Sunday.

Advocate Owais, who is already incarcerated for the murder of a man related to this case, showed the court a nikah nama which stated Sidra Bibi was his wife. However, further verification showed the thumbprints and signature on the document did not match that of Sidra Bibi.

Owais claimed he was married to Sidra Bibi and was awaiting rukhsati; the girl’s family denied his statement, causing both families to get embroiled in a legal battle.

The lawyer had earlier allegedly opened fire at the main entrance of Sidra’s house when her family tried to marry her off to someone else. There were no casualties reported in this incident.

He was arrested for this attack, but later released on bail. Owais then presented the marriage certificate during subsequent court proceedings and the irregularities in the document were discovered when it was sent for verification.

Based on the NADRA office report, police registered an FIR against Advocate Owais, nikah khwan Maulana Abdul Wahid Qamar, Notary Public Dilawaiz Khan, stamp vendor Ashfaq and witnesses Kamran and Babar.

The advocate has been sent back to jail, along with four relatives for their alleged involvement in the murder of Sidra Bibi’s brother, who was shot dead last month.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th,2014.