KARACHI: A local magistrate today (Tuesday) granted police three-day physical remand of a 44-year-old suspect in a case pertaining to forceful conversion and marriage to a minor girl, Arzoo.
A day earlier, the Anti-Violent Crime Cell arrested the prime suspect, Syed Azhar Ali, on a police complaint filed by Arzoo’s father, Raja. The police today presented the suspect before the magistrate seeking judicial remand.
During the hearing, the counsel of the arrested suspect claimed that the 13-year-old Arzoo willingly wed Ali. He argued that the prosecution can neither seek arrest nor judicial remand in the case.
Later, the plaintiff’s lawyer said a DNA test would explain the case further. The police then were directed to submit DNA report and other evidence before the bench on the next hearing. The case will be heard on Thursday, November 5.
Earlier on November 2, the Sindh High Court (SHC) directed the police to recover the minor girl and move her to a shelter home within three days.
“In this case the dispute is twofold: firstly the age of the petitioner Arzoo Fatima; according to her family is 13 years,” reads the order issued by the high court. “Second issue is whether she converted at her own will from Christianity to Islam and that being the case she has entered into a valid marriage with Ali Azhar,” it added.
