HYDERABAD, March 5 The Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit bench, has restrained the Matli police from arresting a newly-married couple and ordered a petitioner woman to record her statement before police regarding her 'kidnapping' case.

The order was passed on a petition filed by Aneesa and her husband Ali Dino Odhejo, both residents of Gareeb Udhejo, Matli.

According to the petition, Aneesa is daughter of Khamoo Odhejo and her husband is her relative. Two years ago Khamoo engaged her with Ali Dino but later started using delaying tactics when Ali Dino's parents asked him to hold the marriage. Khamoo also made unnecessary demands from Ali Dino's parents.

Disappointed by her father's attitude, Anisa being an adult person married Ali Dino of her own free will in the court of civil judge and judicial magistrate of Kunri on Nov 29, 2008.

When her father came to know about the marriage, he became annoyed, issued threats of dire consequences to Ali Dino and his relatives and lodged a false complaint of her kidnapping against her husband and his relatives with the Matli police.

A contingent of the Matli police, led by its SHO and accompanied by Khamoo, raided Ali Dino's house and asked his parents to return Anisa to her parents, the petitioners said. Since then, the couple said, they were being harassed by the police.

They requested the court to quash the FIR and direct respondent investigating officer not to harass them.

Sindh Assistant Advocate-General Mumtaz Leghari informed the court that police did not harass the couple and no progress could be made in the case since Aneesa failed to appear before the police.

The court directed Anisa to appear before the investigating officer in 10 days to record her statement. The investigating officer was directed to record her statement, complete investigation and submit a report before the judicial magistrate concerned in a week.