HYDERABAD, Dec 23: A young woman, Kausaur, has sought protection from higher authorities against her mother who she alleged was forcing her into prostitution.

She made the appeal at a press conference at the local press club along with her daughter and her husband Riyasatullah Brohi.

She is from Kanpur in Kotri taluka of Jamshoro district. She said that she had married Riyasatullah in 2002. Her mother, Kishwar took her to Karachi along with her daughter on the pretext that a marriage was scheduled there. She said that her mother took away her baby and asked her to seek divorce from Riyasatullah or else her daughter would be killed.

She said that she appeared before a civil court judge in Karachi and demanded divorce which was announced. Then, she said, she returned to Kotri and put pressure on her family that she wanted to live with her husband.

She said that she had obtained an Islamic decree against her divorce because it was against her consent and under compelling circumstances.

She further said that before Ramazan she returned to her husband but her mother again lodged a case against her husband for kidnapping her with an intention to commit rape.

She said that her mother wanted to force her into prostitution because she herself is living with a man without marriage. She said that she had been threatened that she would not be allowed to approach court of law so that she could make a correct statement.

She said that she needed protection against her mother.
Source: Dawn
Date:12/24/2007