Happy homecoming: ‘Held’ girl goes home
Judge conditionally reunites Jamia Hafsa student with family
Judge conditionally reunites Jamia Hafsa student with family. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
Even though the civil society’s campaign against Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz has yet to meet its logical end, it bore fruit in a way on Monday when it reunited a family with their ‘lost’ daughter.
Uzma Qayyum — a 26-year-old former student of Jamia Hafsa — finally consented before a judge that she was willing to rejoin her parents.
The court directed that the girl be sent home from a women’s shelter in Islamabad where she had been staying for 10 days on the court’s orders for psychological counseling.
Some eight months ago, Uzma had moved to the women’s seminary associated with Lal Masjid without informing her parents and later refused to come back, saying that the atmosphere at home was not in accordance with Islamic Law.
Her father, Abdul Qayyum, had filed an application with the Supreme Court against the seminary administration alleging they had brainwashed his daughter and were keeping her in custody.
The apex court then sought a report from Islamabad Sessions Judge Nazir Ahmad Gajana over the issue, which after six hearings that included sending the girl to two different shelters, announced a decision.
On his daughter’s request, Qayyum also submitted an undertaking with the court that primarily contains assurances that Uzma would be provided an atmosphere of her choice and be allowed to occasionally visit Jamia Hafsa, albeit accompanied by family members.
The undertaking also assures Uzma of having no restrictions in continuing her studies in a place of her choosing and that she would not be forced to marry someone chosen by her parents.
Umme Hassan — Aziz’s wife and the head of Jamia Hafsa — also appeared before the court and said she had no objection over the girl’s going home. Earlier, Uzma had said she would not go home until asked to do so by Hassan.
In her address to the court, Hassan clarified her position and that of the seminary saying she never influenced the girl – ‘as was alleged by the girl’s father and the media’ – but only provided shelter to her.
Hearing that, the judge remarked that when Uzma had come to the seminary, Hassan should have played the role of a mediator between her and the family to amicably resolve the issue.
Qayyum’s lawyer Imtiaz Haider said Uzma changed her mind after she was kept away from the influence of Jamia Hafsa for more than two weeks. “Necessary counseling and meetings with family members helped her improve mentally. Earlier she had even refused to talk to her family,” said Haider.
Qayyum, while talking to The Express Tribune, said he could not describe how happy the family was. He said he would leave no stone unturned to fulfill his daughter’s demands, adding that he was thankful to the civil society and judiciary for helping bring his daughter home.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 10th, 2015.
Even though the civil society’s campaign against Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz has yet to meet its logical end, it bore fruit in a way on Monday when it reunited a family with their ‘lost’ daughter.
Uzma Qayyum — a 26-year-old former student of Jamia Hafsa — finally consented before a judge that she was willing to rejoin her parents.
The court directed that the girl be sent home from a women’s shelter in Islamabad where she had been staying for 10 days on the court’s orders for psychological counseling.
Some eight months ago, Uzma had moved to the women’s seminary associated with Lal Masjid without informing her parents and later refused to come back, saying that the atmosphere at home was not in accordance with Islamic Law.
Her father, Abdul Qayyum, had filed an application with the Supreme Court against the seminary administration alleging they had brainwashed his daughter and were keeping her in custody.
The apex court then sought a report from Islamabad Sessions Judge Nazir Ahmad Gajana over the issue, which after six hearings that included sending the girl to two different shelters, announced a decision.
On his daughter’s request, Qayyum also submitted an undertaking with the court that primarily contains assurances that Uzma would be provided an atmosphere of her choice and be allowed to occasionally visit Jamia Hafsa, albeit accompanied by family members.
The undertaking also assures Uzma of having no restrictions in continuing her studies in a place of her choosing and that she would not be forced to marry someone chosen by her parents.
Umme Hassan — Aziz’s wife and the head of Jamia Hafsa — also appeared before the court and said she had no objection over the girl’s going home. Earlier, Uzma had said she would not go home until asked to do so by Hassan.
In her address to the court, Hassan clarified her position and that of the seminary saying she never influenced the girl – ‘as was alleged by the girl’s father and the media’ – but only provided shelter to her.
Hearing that, the judge remarked that when Uzma had come to the seminary, Hassan should have played the role of a mediator between her and the family to amicably resolve the issue.
Qayyum’s lawyer Imtiaz Haider said Uzma changed her mind after she was kept away from the influence of Jamia Hafsa for more than two weeks. “Necessary counseling and meetings with family members helped her improve mentally. Earlier she had even refused to talk to her family,” said Haider.
Qayyum, while talking to The Express Tribune, said he could not describe how happy the family was. He said he would leave no stone unturned to fulfill his daughter’s demands, adding that he was thankful to the civil society and judiciary for helping bring his daughter home.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 10th, 2015.