ISLAMABAD: The Islam­abad High Court (IHC) on Monday sought an explanation from the interior ministry for facilitating departure of showbiz celebrity Veena Malik’s children to Pakistan from the UAE while a case related to the dispute over their custody was pending in a Dubai court.

The high court also asked the foreign ministry to submit a report on the matter.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, while hearing the petition of Asad Bashir, the former husband of Ms Malik, ordered the authorities concerned to submit their reports on the matter by Feb 4.

The counsel for the petitioner informed the court that Mr Bashir was the father of five-year-old Amal and six-year-old Abraham. He further informed the court that the two boys were citizens of the US, adding that the petitioner had a marital dispute with Zahida Malik aka Veena Malik which was pending in the UAE’s court in Dubai.

The counsel also infor­med the IHC that the Dubai court, in its order dated April 04, 2018, had restrained anyone from taking the children away from its jurisdiction.

He alleged that the government authorities as well as the Pakistani mission in Dubai were complicit in the illegal abduction of his client’s minor children and later their travel to Pakistan.

He pleaded that the officials involved in the matter should be proceeded against for their acts of omission and commission.

On Sept 25, 2019, Afzaal Ahmed Saqib, the family judge of Rawalpindi, had authorised Ms Malik to take charge of the children.

The ruling clearly declared her as the appointed legal guardian of her children, Abraham and Amal, till further orders.

Previously, Ms Malik had filed a petition in a Lahore court on Jan 6, 2017, for a Khula (dissolution of the marriage) from her husband, which was issued in favour of the actress on Jan 31, 2017.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2021