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Thursday March 28, 2024

IHC gives two Hindu sisters in state custody

By Obaid Abrar Khan
March 27, 2019

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday gave in the state custody two underage Hindu sisters from Ghotki district of Sindh who married Muslim men after converting to Islam.

Chief Justice Islamabad High Court Justice Athar Minallah took a petition filed by Raveena and Reena from Daharki area of Ghotki district of Sindh seeking protection from their family, as they were forcing them to return to their religion.

During the hearing, Justice Athar Minallah ordered the Islamabad deputy commissioner and director general human rights to get the two girls in their custody and ensure their safety.

He also directed that the two sisters could not be taken to Sindh until their case was decided by the court. The court also sought report on the inquiry ordered by Prime Minister Imran Khan in the next hearing on April 2.

Earlier, the two sisters filed a petition with the Islamabad High Court stating that they had embraced Islam of their own free will and rejected the media propaganda that they had been forced to convert to Islam.

The petition stated that the two sisters were inspired by the Islamic teachings for some time but they kept it secret because of safety concerns. It further sought protection for the two girls and their husbands, as their lives were under threat.

The petition has nominated the Interior Ministry, Sindh chief minister, IGP Sindh and Punjab and MNA Ramesh Kumar and Hari Lal as respondents. Meanwhile, Safdar and Barkat, the husbands of two girls, Tuesday filed a plea with the IHC seeking protective bail.

Their petition states that the court should pass an order to ensure their security, as they were receiving threats. “Police are also threatening them,” the petition states. Talking to the media persons outside the court, Safdar Ali, husband of Aasia (Raveena), said they were neighbors and in contact through mobile phones.