SHC directs police to provide protection to free-will couple

Karachi, Sindh High Court has directed authorities to ensure the safety of a newlywed couple who married by free will. Justice Mohammad Saleem Jessar, presiding over a two-judge bench, also ordered police to submit a report to the concerned magistrate following an abduction case filed against the wife's husband. The petitioner, Sania Baloch, had petitioned the court against the police, home department, private individuals, and her own family members, alleging criminal intimidation and false abduction charges.

The petitioner claimed she had willingly married her husband in August and was fulfilling her marital obligations. However, her family members, driven by opposition to the marriage, had filed an FIR against her for abduction under Pakistan's Penal Code and Trafficking in Persons Act. The court held that all citizens, including the petitioners, must receive legal protection without discrimination.

The petition was disposed of, with the court ordering the respondents to uphold the law and ensure the couple's safety, preventing any harassment. The investigating officer has promised to submit a report to the magistrate upon recording the petitioner's statement.