Pakistan court nullifies Hindu girl's marriage to a Muslim man
The first time in history, a court in Pakistan annuls the marriage of a Muslim man and Hindu minor girl, who was abducted and forcibly converted to Islam.
Mehak Kumari, a class IX student, was allegedly abducted from Jacobabad district of Sindh Province in Pakistan on January 15th by Ali Raza Solangi. He forcibly converted her to Islam and later, got married to her. Father of the girl lodged a FIR and claimed that Solangi had abducted and forcibly married to his 15 years old daughter.
Additional Session Judge of that jurisdiction, Gulam Ali Kansaro cited evidence and documents. Then, he ruled that Mehak who took an Islamic name Aliza was a minor. Because of the underage, she was not fit for the marriage under Sections 3 and 4 of the Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act.
Though, the couple claimed that she took up Islam at a Shrine by her choice and they had a contract of a free-will marriage. The judge directed Larkana's senior police officials to take action against all those who were involved in conducting, facilitating and abetting the child marriage.
The girl was brought to the court from a women's shelter home from Larkana where she was sent after the couple was taken into custody.
Heavy security witnessed in and around the court for the hearing to avoid any unrest as local Hindu and Muslim leaders were present in the court.
Hindus are a minority community in Pakistan. Since Pakistan is an Islamic country, Hindus have no rights in Pakistan's constitution and laws. Hindus are facing major issues along with the abduction of girls and women in Sindh Province where most Pakistani Hindu lives. Muslims convert those women and girls to Islam and lead them to wedlock. Most of the times they marry them just for rivalry cause.
