HYDERABAD, Nov 6: The Hyderabad circuit bench of the Sindh High Court on Thursday sent 17-year-old Ms Sindhoo to Darul Aman to give her time to ponder in a neutral and free atmosphere over her decision to marry an already married man.

She filed a petition through Akram Rajput advocate when she was produced in the court, declaring that she had married a man and seeking abolition of case against her husband.

Her father Israr Ali, who is a primary school teacher, had claimed in an application which was converted into a petition, that her daughter had been kidnapped.

Mr Ali had claimed that Sindhoo was studying in Noor Shah College Tandojam as intermediate student when one Ms Tahira, daughter of Sher Mohammad Nizamani, called her out on the excuse that her father was waiting for her in the car.

When she reached the car she was kidnapped by Mukhtiar, son of Hashim Nizamani of Hashim Nizamani village, he said.

Ms Tahira, then demanded Rs250,000 as ransom for her release and threatened of dire consequences, he claimed, adding that he lodged an FIR at Tandojam police station but police did not take any interest in his daughter’s recovery.

Ms Sindhoo’s counsel placed her nikahnama declaring her marriage with Mukhtiar before the court, which noted that column No.21 about first marriage had been left blank.

The girl’s counsel said that Mukhtiar had told her that he was already married and had four children.

The court observed that there was a specific law giving mechanism for the man, who intended to contract second marriage and Mukhtiar had committed misrepresentation in nikahnama.

“The petitioner is not 18 years of age. Therefore, possibility of making an emotional decision can’t be ruled out. As such, she has to be housed at some neutral place where she can ponder over her decision without any force and duress,” the court observed.

As all the parties agreed and Assistant Advocate-General of Allah Bachayo Soomro proposed that the girl be lodged in Darul Aman.

The court ordered accordingly with directives that she be produced in the court on

Nov 12.