A family’s wish: Police ordered to produce ‘detained’ seminary girl
Uzma allegedly being kept forcefully at Jamia Hafsa.
During the last seven months, the seminary administration only twice allowed Uzma’s mother to meet her and the male family members were turned back. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
A local court on Wednesday directed the police to produce a student of Jamia Hafsa before on Thursday (today) for her statement in an alleged missing person’s case.
The father of 26-year-old Uzma Qayyum — the niece of an internationally acclaimed Pakistani off-spinner-turned-international umpire — had earlier pleaded the Supreme Court of Pakistan for recovery of his daughter, who, he claimed, was being forcefully detained by the seminary’s administration.
The Supreme Court has sought a report over the issue from a sessions judge.
Sessions Judge Nazir Ahmed Gajana recorded the statement of Sheikh Mohammad Qayyum, Uzma’s father, on Wednesday.
“The court’s order will be complied. The girl will be produced before the court,” said SHO Aabpara Police Station Khalid Awan.
When asked if the seminary administration was ready to free the girl for record of statement, he said the court’s orders would be implemented at any cost. In his statement before the court, Qayyum said his daughter had been residing at Jamia Hafsa without the family’s consent.
He added that Uzma was enrolled at a local women’s seminary in Sadiqabad, Rawalpindi but seven months ago she left and moved into Jamia Hafsa after being ‘brainwashed by Umme Hassan,’ the head of the seminary and Maulana Abdul Aziz’s wife.
She then refused to come back home saying our house culture was not in accordance with Islam, he narrated.
During the last seven months, the seminary administration only twice allowed Uzma’s mother to meet her and the male family members were turned back.
A few months ago, Uzma was produced before a local court in a case filed by her father where she said she was living in the seminary at her own free will. After the statement the court had sent her back to the seminary.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 15th, 2015.
A local court on Wednesday directed the police to produce a student of Jamia Hafsa before on Thursday (today) for her statement in an alleged missing person’s case.
The father of 26-year-old Uzma Qayyum — the niece of an internationally acclaimed Pakistani off-spinner-turned-international umpire — had earlier pleaded the Supreme Court of Pakistan for recovery of his daughter, who, he claimed, was being forcefully detained by the seminary’s administration.
The Supreme Court has sought a report over the issue from a sessions judge.
Sessions Judge Nazir Ahmed Gajana recorded the statement of Sheikh Mohammad Qayyum, Uzma’s father, on Wednesday.
“The court’s order will be complied. The girl will be produced before the court,” said SHO Aabpara Police Station Khalid Awan.
When asked if the seminary administration was ready to free the girl for record of statement, he said the court’s orders would be implemented at any cost. In his statement before the court, Qayyum said his daughter had been residing at Jamia Hafsa without the family’s consent.
He added that Uzma was enrolled at a local women’s seminary in Sadiqabad, Rawalpindi but seven months ago she left and moved into Jamia Hafsa after being ‘brainwashed by Umme Hassan,’ the head of the seminary and Maulana Abdul Aziz’s wife.
She then refused to come back home saying our house culture was not in accordance with Islam, he narrated.
During the last seven months, the seminary administration only twice allowed Uzma’s mother to meet her and the male family members were turned back.
A few months ago, Uzma was produced before a local court in a case filed by her father where she said she was living in the seminary at her own free will. After the statement the court had sent her back to the seminary.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 15th, 2015.