LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday issued notices to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Foreign Office) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on a petition of a woman who married a Chinese man but the ministry had not been verifying her nikahnama (marriage certificate).

Komal Shahzadi contended through her counsel that she contracted marriage with a Chinese man in Lahore and had been living a happy married life. She said her husband wanted to take her with him to China, however, the foreign ministry refused to verify their nikahnama at the behest of the FIA.

The petitioner stated that the FIA requested the ministry of foreign affairs not to validate nikahnamas of couples involving Chinese grooms in the wake of an alleged scam of fake marriages and forced prostitution. She asked the court to order the ministry of foreign affairs to verify her nikahnama so that she could complete her travelling documents to fly to China with her husband.

Justice Sardar Ahmad Naeem heard the initial contention and sought replies from the ministry and the FIA within a week.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2019