HYDERABAD, Feb 1: The Tando Bago police took a newly-wedded couple into custody in the premises of the Badin sessions court on Tuesday after the pre-arrest bail of the man and his family members was rejected by the court in a Zina Hudood Ordinance case.

Ashiq Ahsan, who was dismissed as ASI from the Badin police following registration of the case, and his 18-year-old wife, Saba Memon, have sought protection from members of the girl's family, saying they were trying to kill them.

The girl was brought to the Hyderabad Civil Hospital on Tuesday night for medical examination which was conducted by medico-legal officer Dr Shazia Baloch to determine her age. Her husband was also brought to the hospital.

Ms Saba told Dawn in the office of the MLO that she had married Mr Ahsan of her own will on Nov 5, 2004. She said her father had lodged the case against her husband to put pressure on her to leave him and marry her cousin, Afaq Shams. She said she did not want to be medically examined because she had married of her own will.

Ms Saba said that after marrying Mr Ahsan she had returned to her house and then left with him on Dec 7 whereas the FIR of her alleged abduction was lodged by her father, Allah Nawaz Memon, on Jan 21 with the Tando Bago police against her husband, his father and six other relatives.

Ahsan told Dawn that their lives were in danger because the girl's brother and her uncle had thrown acid on them in the court on Tuesday but they escaped. Tando Bago investigating team in charge Abdul Raheem Khaskheli said the girl's maternal uncle had filed an application before the civil court questioning her attainment puberty.

He said as per the FIR, the girl was kidnapped on the night of Oct 2 and the marriage took place on Nov 5. He said in fact police had recovered the girl whereas her husband had been arrested along with some other co-accused.