Karachi: A division bench of the Sindh High Court headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed disposed of a constitutional petition filed by a free-will couple who sought protection from their relatives and police.

The petitioners — Kubra Perveen, resident of Sajawal, and her husband Mushtaq Ahmed — submitted that they had married after the woman executed a free-will certificate before a first-class magistrate in Karachi.

They said that the father and uncles of Kubra Perveen filed a habeas corpus petition against the petitioners before the district and sessions judge of Naushero Feroze.

The petitioners cited the provincial police officer, the district police officer of Naushero Feroze, the SHO of Kandhyaro police station, the SHO of Sajawal police station, Riaz Ahmed (father of Kubra) and others as respondents.

A provincial law officer filed written statements on behalf of the respondent police officials. The statements said that no FIR had been registered against the petitioners.

The law officer submitted that the couple was not being harassed or implicated in any case.

He submitted in court that the police would provide assistance and protection to the couple if they approached the police.

Petitioner Kubra Perveen recorded her statement in court and submitted that she was legally married to Mushtaq Ahmed.

She submitted that she did not wish to go back to the house of her parents as she apprehended threats to her life.

The court in its order said: “In the circumstances, while we dispose of this petition in view of the statement made by the assistant advocate general as well as the statements of the petitioner, we also dispose of the habeas corpus petition pending in the court of the districts and sessions judge, Naushero Feroze, under Section 497 of the Criminal Procedure Code, a copy of which is kept on the court file.”
Source: Dawn
Date:2/2/2010