PESHAWAR, May 16: A man petitioned the Peshawar High Court on Monday, seeking shifting – and release — of his daughter-in-law from Islamabad to Peshawar where she had married his nephew of her own free will last month before they were arrested on a charge punishable under Hudood law.

The petitioner said that the girl, who received serious injuries in an attack allegedly by her relatives, should be provided with proper medical treatment. He urged the court that police action of taking her to the capital be declared illegal and against the law.

Early last month, Robeena Zaheen, daughter of Zaheen Ahmed, married Ghulam Ali of her own free will. On April 10, Mr Ahmad lodged an FIR under the Offence of Zina (Enforcement of Hudood) Ordinance, 1979, alleging that Ghulam Ali had abducted his daughter.

On Friday, Robeena, living in a shelter house, was taken by the Bhara Kahu police to Islamabad. The police took her to a hospital for her medico-legal test where her relatives attacked her. She received serious injuries and has been undergoing treatment in Islamabad.

The petition has been filed by Maqsood Ahmad, an uncle of Ghulam Ali, saying that the girl had married his nephew of her own free will. A panel of lawyers has been representing the petitioner.

The high court has been requested to set aside the order of a magistrate disallowing the girl to accompany the petitioner who complained that the Islamabad police had been treating her like some accused and she had been kept incommunicado in the hospital.