NAWABSHAH, Oct 15: A girl, who had left her home because her family wanted to marry her against her will, was allowed by a court to go her mother as per her wish.

The “A” section police produced Humera Chandio in the court of judicial magistrate-1 here on Wednesday where she deposed that she had left her home because her family wanted to marry her against her will. She said that she wanted to go with her mother and the court allowed her to do so.

On Tuesday evening, dozens of people belonging to Chandio community staged a demonstration here in protest against the “A” Section police for what they called detaining Humera.

The protesters burnt tyres and blocked Sakrand road which led to suspension of vehicular traffic. A heavy contingent of police reached the spot and the protesters pelted stones on them. As a result windowpane of a police van was smashed. The police restored to aerial firing to disperse the protesters.

Ms Shahzadi told journalists that her sister Humera had gotten angry with her family on some issue and left home. She claimed that the police arrested her sister from a coach stand near Edhi Chowk and took her to the police station. She alleged that when they asked for her release, the police demanded bribe.

DPO Rukhsar Ahmed Khuhawar told journalists that the girl was not ready to go home as she was afraid that she might be killed by her relatives for leaving home. He said that the police had taken her in custody to protect her.

He said that the police asked her relatives to bring a senior member of their family to submit an affidavit about the safety of the girl after which they would hand over the girl to them.
Source: Dawn
Date:10/16/2008