January 07, 2009	Wednesday	Muharram 09, 1430

HYDERABAD, Jan 6: The Hyderabad circuit bench of the Sindh High Court on Tuesday restrained police from arresting a newly-wed couple and issued notices to police officials on a petition filed by the couple.

Aasif Ali and his wife Hameeda represented by Noorul Haque Qureshi advocate cited the SHO, investigating wing in-charge and the SPO of Bulri Shah Karim and Nathu Mallah as respondents.

The petitioners said that ms Hameeda who had attained puberty and was 18-year-old had exercised her right by marrying Ali of her own free will because. She said that she had married him without coercion or pressure.

She said that her nikah was solemnised on Nov 1, 2008 and registered in the union council concerned of Badin.

After eight days of publication of nikah, her father filed an application in the court of sessions judge Hyderabad, alleging that she had been abducted. The court ordered registration of FIR, which was lodged on Dec 20, 2008 and the police arrested Ghulam Hussain Burdi, maternal uncle of Aasif Ali.

The petitioners prayed the court to quash the FIR and release Aasif’s maternal uncle. The court issued notices to respondents and restrained police from arresting the couple.