A man was beaten up on court premises on Wednesday by his two former wives (sisters) for allegedly kidnapping and forcibly marrying their sister.
The incident occurred when Adnan and his third wife Anum were leaving the sessions court after the judge, Mansoor Ahmed Khan, ruled in their favour and disposed of the petition filed by the women’s father. The father, Muhammad Riaz, had accused Adnan of kidnapping Anum and forcibly marrying her. However, after hearing Anum say that she had married of her free will, the judge gave the decision in their favour.
When they were leaving the court, Riaz and his two elder daughters tried to take Anum away. When she refused to go with them, they beat up Adnan.
Witnesses said they attacked him with whatever they found at hand, including bricks from a nearby construction site. The man was rescued by the police and his family members, who were accompanying him.
Earlier, Adnan told the court that he had married Tabassum six years ago, but divorced her three years later after her father illegally occupied his (Adnan’s) house he had rented out to him. He said Riaz later tried to settle the dispute. He also offered him his second daughter’s hand in marriage. He said he accepted the proposal, married Tehmina and gifted the house to Riaz.
Three years later, he said, Riaz demanded that he pay them Rs200,000 or divorce Tehmina.
He alleged that Riaz had threatened to file a false case against him if he didn’t pay the money. He said he then divorced Tehmina.
Later, he said, he developed an interest in the youngest of the sisters, Anum, whom he married at a court five months ago. He said Riaz then filed a kidnapping case against him at the Satellite Town police station in January 2013.
He also named Adnan’s brother Karamat Ali and his brother-in-law Zubair as accomplices.
Supporting Adnan’s statement, Anum said he had not abducted or forced her and that she had married him of her free will.
The court then disposed of the petition.
Riaz denied Adnan’s claims saying that he had divorced his daughters because he could not afford to give them enough dower. He said he was now worried for his third daughter’s future.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 7th, 2013.