Love marriage: Prisoner says his wife has been sold off

MULTAN: A group of unidentified men kidnapped a woman for contracting a marriage of her own choice last year.

According to locals in Shujabad, Khaki Punjani resident Muhammad Sadeeq married Asma in court seven months ago. The couple had been facing death threats from both their families if they chose to go ahead with their marriage against their parents’ wishes.

“Sadeeq approached me and said that he wanted to contract the marriage in court before Asma’s parents could marry her off to someone else,” Advocate Sharjeel Rana said.

Rana told police officials that following the marriage the couple fled the area but Asma’s brothers caught Sadeeq and had him arrested on false charges including kidnapping and rape.

Locals in the village protested against the match. Asma’s parents and the family she was promised to, approached the court a few days after her wedding searching for her.

“They came to the court and asked to see their daughter but she escaped” Sharjeel said.

“I kept telling her to remain in hiding but she wanted to clear her husband’s name and sent me signed documents proving their marriage to have him released,” Rana said.

On Thursday, police officials located Asma and handed her over to her parents who sold her to Afzal Baloch and his family for Rs80,000.

“I don’t expect them to release me because they have paid off the police. I have been in jail for seven months but I knew that my wife was safe. Now they have sold her and I want the authorities to get her back before they end up killing her,” Sadeeq told reporters.

Source: The Express Tribune

Date:7/2/2011