PHC allows couple to live together
PESHAWAR: A division bench of the Peshawar High Court on Monday allowed Sajid Khan and Naveeda Hamayun, who married on their own will — to live together after the girl showed her willingness to go with her husband. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Tariq Pervez Khan and Justice Raj Muhammad Khan was hearing a habeas corpus writ petition filed by Sajid Khan, seeking release of his wife from the wrongful confinement of her father and guardian.
Naveeda had secretly wed with Sajid Khan on June 1, 2005 but the couple refrained from making their marriage public and continued residing at their own houses due to the fear of their family members. “Keeping in mind the socio-culture environment and status of the father and guardian of the girl, the court had asked Advocate Abdul Lateef Afridi and Haroon Bilour to use their good offices to persuade Saadat Khan (father of Sajid) to accept the girl as his daughter-in-law. Today at the chamber both Afridi and Bilour informed the court that they held separate meetings with Saadat Khan who didn’t agree. Therefore, Naveeda who is an adult and educated girl cannot be restrained from going with her husband as she has accepted her marriage with Sajid,” the bench ruled.
The court also directed for a police escort for the couple to their residence. On previous hearing of the case, the court had asked Afridi and Bilour to try to persuade the father of Sajid to accept the girl as his daughter-in-law. The girl was then given into the custody of PHC Member Inspection Team Sahibzada Khursheed Ahmad for three days. The chief justice in his remarks had said: “We’re apprehensive about letting her go with her husband, as she might be hurt by his father-in-law.” The father of the girl, Faiz Muhammad, was ready to hand over her daughter to Sajid Khan but he wanted him to marry her performing all the wedding rituals as his daughter’s love marriage would earn a bad name for him and his family in the conservative Pakhtun society.
Source: The News
Date:10/17/2006
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