KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed the authorities concerned to provide necessary protection of life, honour and property to a newlywed couple who tied the knot of their free will.

A two-judge constitutional bench of the SHC headed by Justice Mohammad Saleem Jessar also ordered the police to submit a report before the magistrate concerned in view of the statement recorded by the petitioner in an abduction case lodged against her husband.

Citing the home department, various police officials and private individuals as respondents, Sania Baloch had petitioned the SHC and submitted that she had contracted a free-will marriage with Muhammad Aaqil and sought protection and quashing of an FIR.

The counsel for the petitioner argued that she, being sui juris, without any coercion or force had contracted marriage in August and now she was performing her marital obligations and willingly living with her husband.

However, the lawyer also submitted that the family members of the petitioner, particularly her father, being antagonised upon the marriage of the petitioner, were extending criminal intimidation to both the petitioner and her husband and had also lodged an FIR about her abduction under Section 365-B of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 2/3 of Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2018 at Nabisar Road police station in Umerkot district.

A provincial law officer submitted that official respondents were legally bound to provide protection to all citizens, including petitioners, without any discrimination and they had to ensure legal protection of life, honour and property to the petitioners.

Thereafter, the lawyer for the petitioner, being satisfied with the statements made by respondents/police officials and an assistant advocate general, sought disposal of the petition with directions to the official respondents to provide necessary protection.

The bench in its order said, “In view of whatever discussed above, the instant petition stands disposed of with directions to official respondents to conduct themselves strictly in accordance with law and provide necessary legal protection of life, liberty, honour and property to petitioner and her husband in the manner that no one shall cause them harassment”.

The investigating officer of the case has assured the court that he has recorded the statement of the woman and will submit the report accordingly before the magistrate concerned.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2026