Missing Girl Appears in Sindh High Court, Says She Married by Choice After Alleged Abuse by Father

Karachi: A girl who had been reported missing appeared before the Sindh High Court on Wednesday and told the court that she had married of her own free will, alleging that her father had subjected her to abuse.

The case came up before the constitutional bench of the Sindh High Court during proceedings on a petition seeking the recovery of two minor girls. Police produced both girls before the court and informed the bench that the elder girl had married a man identified as Qurban.

Counsel for the petitioner, Advocate Bushra Abbas, argued that the elder girl, aged 14, had been abducted by Qurban and that she had also taken along her six-year-old sister, Alina.

During the hearing, the girls’ father, Hayatullah, became emotional and told the court that he had been longing to see his daughters.

However, the girl, identified as Bebo, told the court that she had decided to marry of her own choice because her father used to mistreat her. Following her statement, the court directed the investigating officer to formally record her testimony.

After the hearing, Hayatullah attempted to embrace his daughters in the court premises, but both girls declined to meet him.

The matter remains under judicial consideration, and further proceedings are expected after the investigation and recording of the girl’s statement.