SAHIWAL, March 11: A couple which had contracted love marriage was kidnapped by thirty armed men from the premises of District and Sessions Court on Tuesday.

Reports said Muhammad Sardar Baloch of Hasan Wala village, Tehsil Minchanabad, Bahawalnagar district, contracted love marriage with his relative Nasreen Bibi of Chak 104/-L, Sahiwal, in Lahore Sessions Court on September 3, 2007.

Nasreen’s family, especially her brother Ghulam Farid, was against the marriage.

Gulam Farid had got registered a kidnap case against Sardar Baloch under 496A of the PPC with Dera Rahim police on August 28, 2007.

Sardar was later granted interim bail by Sahiwal district and sessions judge after he produced marriage documents along with witnesses in the court.

On Tuesday, Nasreen Bibi, along with her husband, arrived at the court to get her statement recorded, where Gulam Farid was already present with thirty armed men.

The couple's lawyer Muhammad Sami Ullah sensing the danger, twice called 15 police for help but before they could reach there, the armed men bundled the couple into a waiting car and fled the scene.

Witnesses said the police constables present on the court premises did not take any action against the abductors.

However, police reaching the spot captured two armed men who were escaping by a car. They were later identified as Riaz and Zulfiqar.

Later, Sami Ullah advocate and some of the relatives of Sardar called a press conference at a local hotel and sought help of human rights activists and journalists to secure release of the couple.

Mian Khan, a relative of Sardar apprehended the couple might be killed.

Civil Lines police registered a case against the two arrested accused under sections 365, 148-149 of the PPC.

Police are looking for the remaining accused.

Opinion

Editorial

Business concerns
Updated 26 Apr, 2024

Business concerns

There is no doubt that these issues are impeding a positive business clime, which is required to boost private investment and economic growth.
Musical chairs
26 Apr, 2024

Musical chairs

THE petitioners are quite helpless. Yet again, they are being expected to wait while the bench supposed to hear...
Global arms race
26 Apr, 2024

Global arms race

THE figure is staggering. According to the annual report of Sweden-based think tank Stockholm International Peace...
Digital growth
Updated 25 Apr, 2024

Digital growth

Democratising digital development will catalyse a rapid, if not immediate, improvement in human development indicators for the underserved segments of the Pakistani citizenry.
Nikah rights
25 Apr, 2024

Nikah rights

THE Supreme Court recently delivered a judgement championing the rights of women within a marriage. The ruling...
Campus crackdowns
25 Apr, 2024

Campus crackdowns

WHILE most Western governments have either been gladly facilitating Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, or meekly...