A judicial magistrate on Monday handed a 21-year-old Hindu woman back to her family after rejecting a police request to place her in a shelter home. The woman, who belongs to Sanghar district in Sindh, was at the centre of allegations involving forced conversion and marriage.
The case began after the woman went missing from her hometown. Subsequently, Sanghar police registered an FIR on the complaint of her brother and launched an investigation into the matter.
According to the complainant, CCTV footage allegedly showed unidentified individuals taking his sister from their residence during the night between August 23 and 24. The family also claimed valuables and mobile phones were taken during the incident.
Woman Recovered in Gujranwala
The family alleged that the woman was taken to Gujranwala, where she was persuaded to convert to Islam and marry a local man. They further claimed that the man was already married.
Following the FIR, Sindh authorities contacted their counterparts in Punjab and sought assistance. Acting on the information, Eminabad police recovered the woman and presented her before a judicial magistrate.
During the hearing, the investigating officer requested the court to send the woman to Darul Aman for safe custody. Police argued that she was unwilling to return to her parents.
Magistrate Rejects Shelter Home Request
However, the woman’s lawyers opposed the request and informed the court that she wished to return home. They also requested that the magistrate record her statement directly.
In her statement under oath, the woman said she wanted to return to her parents’ home with her brother of her own free will. Moreover, she stated that she faced no threats and was not under any pressure while giving her statement.
After reviewing her testimony, the magistrate rejected the police request to send her to Darul Aman. Consequently, the court allowed her to leave with her brother and return to Sanghar.
Personnel from Sanghar police station were also present during the proceedings. Meanwhile, further legal proceedings related to the case may continue under the relevant investigation.
