MULTAN: An additional district and sessions judge on Wednesday granted bail to a former PTI district vice president (women’s wing) who is facing allegation of attempting to kidnap the granddaughter of a PML-N legislator.

Judge Mazhar Fareed Ali granted bail to Nabila Butt, a resident of Chah Usmaniawala, LMQ Road, in a case (FIR No 577/16) lodged with the Purana Kotwali police station under Section 363/511 on the complaint of MPA Sultana Shaheen on Dec 3.

Ms Shaheen told police that her son Nauman had died over one year ago and his two daughters and a son were living with her. She alleged that Ms Butt tried to kidnap her three-year-old granddaughter Hoorum Nauman on Nov 30 with the help of her accomplices.

She claimed that the accused left the child after people started gathering while responding to the cries of her granddaughter.

Pleading her innocence, the PTI leader claimed that Sonia Nauman, the widow of Ms Shaheen’s late son, contacted her for help against harsh treatment of her mother-in-law. She said she arranged her meeting with rights activist Babu Akram Ansari on whose advice she went to the Regional Police Office and submitted an application against Ms Shaheen.

Nabila Butt said Ms Shaheen turned against her while complaining why she (Ms Butt) was helping her daughter-in-law and even submitted an application to police levelling the allegation of trying to kidnap her granddaughter.

She said police registered a case against her after Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif during his visit to Multan sought the case be investigated.

Sonia Nauman alleges she is being harassed by her mother-in-law who got her signature on some papers including those of guardianship. Being a ruling party MPA, she said, Ms Shaheen was hurling life threats at her and using her influence to keep her (Sonia’s) children away from her. Sonia says she wants at least her youngest daughter’s custody.

According to the MPA, her daughter-in-law and Ms Butt are playing into the hands of a PML-N MNA and former provincial minister as she (Ms Shaheen) refused to join their group.

Investigation Officer Jahangir Shah said the FIR had been lodged on the basis of political rivalry between two women.

Published in Dawn December 8th, 2016