Last week, a division bench, comprising Justices Ahmed Ali M Sheikh and Syed Muhammad Farooq Shah, had declined to proceed with the plea against Anjali’s forced conversion and marriage when her lawyer expressed no confidence in the two judges.
Forced conversion
Petitioner Kundandas Meghwar, Anjali’s father, had submitted in the petition that his 12-year-old daughter, Anjali, whose Muslim name is Salma, was abducted and forcibly converted to Islam but the Ghotki police were not taking action against the culprits involved in her kidnapping, forced conversion and marriage.
No confidence
On December 10, the two judges had declined to proceed with the petition after the girl expressed no confidence in the bench.
Her lawyer, Ghulam Qadir Jatoi, said the petitioner had come to know that the Sindh chief minister had approached one of the bench members and asked to favour the petitioner, who is the girl’s father. Taking notice of the girl’s statement, the bench had declined to proceed with the matter.
On Thursday, the petition came up for hearing before another bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar. Advocate Syed Ali Ahmed Tariq, representing the petitioner, requested for adjournment. Advocate Abdul Majeed Pirzada, who was representing the girl’s husband, Riaz Ahmed Siyal, raised no objection to the plea.
The Roster Branch reported that earlier the two judges had referred the matter to the SHC chief justice, but the latter was not available.
The bench directed the office to place the order of December 10 before the CJ.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 12th, 2014.
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I must ask from all over the people in pakistan, Is this pakistan independent country? whereas there is not rights for minorities who are not only surviving under pressure but also they facing biggest hurdles therefore many Hindu families from interior sindh migrating. i am feeling proud to being a grand son of Sobho Gianchandani who always had fight for rights.