KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Wednesday allowed a young girl who recently converted from Hinduism to Islam to live with her husband.

A two-judge bench headed by Justice Sajjad Ali Shah gave the direction while dismissing the petition of Kundandas Meghwar against the alleged forced conversion of her daughter, Anjali Kumari Meghwar, who was named Salma after the conversion.

The petitioner, represented by Advocate Syed Ali Ahmed Tariq, asked the court to declare that Anjali was underage and no statement under Section 164 of the criminal procedure code could be recorded at this stage or if her statement was necessary then a judicial magistrate in Karachi might be authorised to record her statement.

Take a look: Forced conversions

The petitioner also asked the court to order the provincial authorities to constitute a medical board comprising qualified gynaecologists and surgeons to conduct her medical examination to ascertain her age.

The counsel submitted that the petitioner’s 12-year-old daughter had been abducted and forced to convert to Islam.

Salma told the judges that she embraced Islam and married Riaz Sial of her own volition.

After her statement, the bench dismissed her father’s plea and allowed her to go with her husband.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2015

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