PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice Dost Mohammad Khan on Monday ordered the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police to provide shelter and protection to the Afghan couple facing death threats after contracting love marriage and seeking asylum in Pakistan.
A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan and Justice Shahjehan Akhundzada directed Superintendent of Police (SP) Peshawar Cantonment to provide the couple, Hewad and Maryam, respectable, safe and secure accommodation either at the Women Police Station or in the Police Lines. The bench also directed the police and provincial government to provide them food and other essential items.
The chief justice took exception to the gross negligence of the Abbottabad Police for wrongly dealing with the case and showing favouritism towards the other party.The bench ordered scrapping of the First Information Report (FIR) lodged against the couple at the Mirpur Police Station in Abbottabad under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act.
On Saturday, the chief justice took suo motu notice of the matter after some private television channels said the couple faced death threats from their families.The Abbottabad Police produced the couple in the court in foolproof security. The members of the rival family also appeared in the case.