April 10, 2006	Monday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 11, 1427

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MUZAFFARABAD, April 9: AJK police have released a newly-wed couple arrested in Lahore on the complaint of the girl’s father after both sides reconciled out of the court. Nazia, 18, and her 21-year-old husband Khalid Ilyas Shah were arrested five days ago in Lahore, where they have been living since their marriage in Karachi.

Mr Shah of Lahore was serving as dispenser in a tent village in Muzaffarabad when he met the girl. As the girl’s parents rejected his proposal to marry her, she left Muzaffarabad on March 12 and married Mr Shah in Lahore the following day.

The girl’s father, Ghulam Mustafa, lodged a complaint with police, accusing his son-in-law of kidnapping his daughter. A police party raided their Lahore residence and arrested the couple under Sections 10/11/16/19 of Zina Act. They were detained in the city police station here.

“Nobody has kidnapped me. I have married him on my own free will and now we are a lawfully wedded couple,” the girl had told Dawn.

Police investigating officer Manzoor Hussain Shah said the girl’s father had withdrawn his allegations before a judicial magistrate.