SHC sends Arzoo Fatima to Darul Aman
It is pertinent to mention here that Arzoo Fatima, a Christian girl, was allegedly abducted and forced to convert and marry to Ali Azhar 44.
A bench of the SHC headed by Justice K.K. heard the case and announced the order.
During the hearing, the prosecutor said It is not an abduction case but the case of underage marriage. “The Nikahkhwan who solemnized marriage of Arzoo and Ali Azhar, has been on bail and other accused have also got bails from courts,” the prosecutor said. “However, two accused are absconding,” he added.
“Do you want to go with your parents,” Justice K.K. Agha asked the girl, who refused to go with her parents again.
“Arzoo Fatima, should be sent to Darul Aman (shelter home) and arrangements should be made for her education and other required facilities,” the court ordered.
The bench also ordered the home department to arrange counselling for the girl and dismissed the petition.
On the other hand, a board of doctors submitted its report in the Sindh High Court (SHC) over the age of Arzoo Fatima, which was claimed to be converted and had married of her own free will.
“Arzoo Fatima, has been an age of between 14 to 15 years,” the medical board informed the court in its report.
A five-member medical board was constituted by the court in previous hearing of the case to determine the girl’s age, which was claimed to be converted and had married of her own free will.
A bench of the high court consists of Justice KK Agha heard the case today.The SHC to send Arzoo Fatima back to a shelter home and ordered the investigation officer to continue proceeding with the investigation.
Arzoo Fatima and Ali Azhar, 44, the man she allegedly married were produced before the court in previous hearing. The girl had repeated her statement in the court that she was 18 years of age. “According to documents your age is lesser of what you claims,” the bench remarked.
Earlier the investigation officer in the case has presented report of a medical board constituted to determine the age of Arzoo that showed the girl is between 14 to 15 years of age.
A division bench, headed by Justice K K Agha, asked the girl if she converted to Islam willingly and without any pressure. The court was hearing the case filed by Arzoo Fatima, a Christian girl who converted to Islam and married to a Muslim man, for providing her the protection.
Arzoo replied that she converted to Islam willingly and without any pressure. When the court asked the girl whether she wanted to go with her parents, the girl while weeping replied she wanted to go with her husband. Upon this the court directed that the girl be taken back to a shelter home and told police to proceed against her alleged husband for violating the Sindh Child Marriages Restraint Act 2013.
