April 30, 2006	Sunday	Rabi-us-Sani 1, 1427

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HYDERABAD, April 29: The district and sessions judge Hyderabad on Saturday exonerated a married couple and co-accused of the charges levelled under the Hudood ordinance by the father of the woman, Sodi Khaskheli.

However, Sodi feared that her father and brother might kill them.

“I am very happy, but threat to our life still exists. We cannot go to our own house because my father had told me at the time of our arrest that he would not spare me, “ 23-year-old Sodi, who was waiting in the court’s canteen for police to be taken to the women prison, told Dawn.

Five years ago, Sodi Khaskheli had married her maternal cousin Abdul Hakeem Khaskheli of her own free will, but her father declared the couple as karo-kari and registered a case against the daughter, son-in-law, Hakeem’s uncle Vikio, his father Talib and brother Manzoor.

Asked if her father might turn violent, she said: “Yes, I am very apprehensive about my life because my father used to attend hearings and threaten to kill us for marrying against his wish. Actually, my father wanted to sell me to a very old man for money and land.”

“My life is in grave danger,” the rural women of Jahan Khan Mori said.

The court, which will issue a detailed judgement later, issued a short order releasing the couple on Saturday after examining Sodi, her husband Abdul Hakeem and Mohammad Soomar Pariyar who solemnised couple’s Nikah and registered it vide registration number 119.