Nineteen days have already passed since the news came out on social media of the young girl Arzoo, the daughter of Raja Lal, a Catholic Christian.
She has been missing from her home, whereas her family appears to know exactly what has happened to her but all their complaints have fallen upon some deaf ears.
The Sindh High Court (SHC) had on Monday directed the worthy authorities to immediately recover the young girl Arzoo. Furthermore the court ordered to shift the innocent girl to a shelter home.
13-yr-old Christian girl Arzoo Raja is kidnapped in Karachi,converted & married to a 44-yr-old man.A court, on basis of affidavit signed under duress, sent her with him, despite docs confirming her age.Many even celebrate.Who'll take us seriously when we're drenched in hypocrisy? pic.twitter.com/uh22zxM7vD
— Bilal Farooqi (@bilalfqi) October 29, 2020
Arzoo’s father has already filed an FIR on October 13 claiming his daughter was kidnapped from her own home. In addition to this her parents have also filed a petition at the District South judicial magistrate. They requested the court to direct the police to locate the girl and bring her before the court.
Also Read: Christian Girl Arzoo Is 14-15 Years Old Medical Board Confirms & Tells The Court
The family fears that the girl is facing sexual violence. Therefore, they want her to be placed into the custody of some child protection institute. The family also claims that the abductor may have forcefully made the girl convert to Islam.
Humanity is dead in Pakistan – Pak High Court validated forced Nikah of a 13 yr old Catholic girl to a 44 yr old Islamist extremist who abducted her. Arzoo Raja was kidnapped on Oct 13 and her family received her marriage papers claiming she was 18 and had converted to Islam pic.twitter.com/n54iNXConi
— Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) October 30, 2020
Later, the police discovered that the christian girl had married to Syed Ali Azhar, as she presented the nikkahnama, affidavit of free-will, and a Sanad-e-Islam certificate in the court. Moreover, the abductor, 44, also claims the girl is 18 years old. He also claims that she has willingly embraced Islam to marry him.
Where as Arzoo’s parents have argued through their application that consummation of child marriage is equivalent to statutory rape. Moreover, they have also claimed it to be outlawed as per Section 375 of the Pakistan Penal Code, including the Section 5 of the Protection of Women (Criminal Laws Amendment) Act 2006.
What is ironic is that it turns out that the abductor’s two brothers are employees of the Sindh police.
In a later development, The PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also took strict notice of this grave issue. In a message on his Twitter handle, the chairperson said that the Sindh government will approach the courts to review the case.
GOS will approach the courts to review the #ArzooRaja underage marriage case, clear up any misunderstanding the honorable court may have, and do everything in their power to provide justice. We passed the law will continue to fight for it to be implemented.
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) October 30, 2020
On October 29, a sessions court granted post-arrest bail to three suspects detained on charges of abducting the child. The men argued the SHC had restrained the police from arresting them.
The abductor’s two brothers along with his friend Danish all who are police officials have been detained.
Watch this video of Arzoo, these aren't her words.
She was told to say these to make the world believe that this isn't forced conversion and marriage.
But, tell us how in the world a 13 yr old became so mature to take this big step on her own?#JusticeForArzoo#Pakistan pic.twitter.com/slfqbrRCO1— Voice of Pakistan Minority (@voice_minority) November 2, 2020
Arzoo’s parents have filed an application under the rules 5, 8, 9 and 10 of the Sindh Child Marriages Restraint Rules, made in 2016, the Section 6 of the Act, 2013 peraing to Child Marriages Restraint and the Section 100 of the Penal Code of Criminal Procedure.
#JusticeForArzoo We've moved an urgent app before Magistrate today under Rules 5 & 9 of Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Rules 2016 for search warrants of Arzoo. Court will hear arguments at 12pm today. Magistrate is bound search for child marriage victims under rules. High Court.. pic.twitter.com/0XzOXm7zY9
— M. Jibran Nasir (@MJibranNasir) October 31, 2020
Arzoo to be placed in a shelter home
The Minister for Human Rights in Pakistan Shireen Mazari On Monday, said the SHC has ordered to move e young girl Arzoo to a shelter home.
On the Arzoo case, today judge has ordered the girl be recovered by police & relevant agencies & be shifted to a shelter home. next hearing fixed for Thursday morning. My lawyer has informed court that an intervener will be filed on my behalf.
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) November 2, 2020
The activist and a famous lawyer Jibran Nasir have confirmed the development. He is a part of the legal team that is fighting the case of Arzoo and her parents.
Today Sindh High Court ordered that #Arzoo be immediately recovered by Sindh Police & produced before Court on 5th Nov & in interim be admitted in shelter home & it also noted that issues to be addressed are her age, was she forcibly converted & was her marriage legal.
— M. Jibran Nasir (@MJibranNasir) November 2, 2020
Furthermore, the famous lawyer has also claimed that he trusts the Sindh government and the police completely. And the fact that they would use all the resources at their disposal to locate Arzoo.
The young girl Arzoo’s father had written the application in which, he pleaded to the court to send her to a shelter home instead of other than placing here in the custody of her alleged husband.
See. how they have brainwashed Arzoo, she is completely against her mother.
Her mother begging her to return home but she refused to listen to her.
How can a 13 yr old take so crucial decision of her life?#JusticeForArzoo #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/nql7AlcQtG— Voice of Pakistan Minority (@voice_minority) November 2, 2020
We hope that this case becomes the basis for a renewed focus on the children’s rights in Pakistan, and Arzoo the 13-year-old christian girl and her parents get justice that they seek and deserve!
