KARACHI, July 4: A student of the Saint Patrick’s Technical College, Mohammad Noman, who has recently embraced Islam, has accused his father-in-law of threatening him with dire consequences, and sought protection for himself and his wife.

According to the youth, he got married Laiba Ali, daughter of Sohrab Ali Meo, a Sub-Inspector of the Anti-robbery Cell, on June 23, 2006 after embracing Islam three days back at the Jamiatul Uloom Al-Islamia, Binnori Town. He said Laiba Ali had also obtained a certificate from a court for the marriage on her free will.

Noman told journalists at a news conference at the Karachi Press Club that his father-in-law, who was not happy with the marriage, exerted pressure on his father asking him to send Laiba back to her parents’ home. He said his father-in-law had submitted an application on June 27 with the Nazim of Liaquatbad Town, Farrukh Kamran Farooqui, who summoned his father.

“My father was asked to send Laiba Ali back to her parents. Although my father had disowned me due to my conversion to Islam, he did ask me to agree to their demand. Under their pressure, he also handed over Laiba to her father on his written guarantee for her life and also for her return to my home gracefully after a compromise between the two families.”

Noman said since her handing over to her parents, neither he nor his wife was being allowed to contact each other. “Rather, I am being forced to divorce her and subjected to death threats if I did not sign the Khula papers,” he claimed. He said his in-laws were also threatening him that he would be implicated in cases.