LAHORE, Nov 16: Punjab's former chief minister and PML-N MPA Sardar Dost Muhammad Khosa on Wednesday admitted before the Lahore High Court that he had contracted marriage with an actress, Zeba Khan alias Sapna Khan, but later divorced her.

Mr Khosa stated this in an affidavit submitted by his counsel with regard to a habeas corpus petition for the recovery of Sapna Khan and her suckling daughter from the alleged illegal custody of Dost Muhammad.

According to the affidavit and marriage registration certificate, nikah ceremony of Mr Khosa and Ms Sapna was held on June 2, 2010, at a Johar Town house in Lahore. At the time of nikah, Mr Khosa was 37 and his marital status was mentioned as 'married', while Sapna was 23 and was 'unmarried'.

In the affidavit, Mr Khosa said constant disobedience and quarrels on part of Sapna forced him to dissolve the marriage on June 19, 2011, in the presence of witnesses. He said all the post-divorce disputes were decided at that moment and both parties pledged they won't raise any demand in future.

He claimed that custody of the couple's four-month-old daughter Mah Gul Khosa was also decided in his favour.

Khosa's counsel stated before the court that since the divorce his client had no knowledge of the whereabouts of Sapna Khan. He alleged that Sapna was in the custody of her sister, Hina Khan.

After going through the reply filed by Mr Khosa and hearing contention of his counsel, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed adjourned hearing till Nov 28 and directed the petitioner to file a rejoinder. Judicial Activism Panel Chairman Muhammad Azhar Siddique filed this petition in public interest. Later, Hina Khan, sister of the alleged detainee, also became a party to the case through the panel. The petitioner submitted that the lady (Sapna Khan) was thrashed and taken away by friends of Mr Khosa from GOR-I on June 2, 2011, and since then there was no clue to her.

He said a news about the incident was published in a national daily on July 7, 2011, and no rebuttal had been made from any side.

Referring to the news item, Advocate Siddique stated Sapna Khan, an actress, and third spouse of Mr Khosa, was last time seen outside his official GOR-I residence with a baby girl in her arms.

Some friends of the former chief minister ruthlessly beat her up and took her away in a car to some unknown place after the baby was snatched from her, the lawyer said.

He said the actress had been residing in a Johar Town house, gifted to her by Khosa, but she wanted to live with him at his GOR-I residence which became a big dispute between the husband and wife.

The petitioner prayed that the authorities be ordered to recover and produce the lady before the court.