By Our Correspondent
Balkhsher Mahar, who had married Shaista Almani against the will of her family and later divorced her after their wedding created a crisis, was produced in the court by the police under tight security.
He recorded his statement before the court which comprised of Justice Maqbool Baqar and Justice Zahid Qurban Alvi.
He stated that he had passed two months with his wife and then divorced her on Oct 24 in Lahore at the residence of his friend, Kamran Butt.
He said that he was under tremendous pressure to divorce her because there was a threat of bloodshed between the Mahar and Almani clans due to their wedding. He said that earlier he had married Shaista Almani under her free will.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan counsel Imdad Ali Awan showed some newspapers to the court, which contained reports of threats issued by Shaista’s uncle that she would be stoned to death after being recovered.
Khuda Bakhsh denied the press reports as baseless and wrong and disclosed that Shaista had talked to him on telephone from Rahim Yar Khan three days ago and extended an apology.
He said that he had forgiven her and assured the court that he would produce her before the court.
Mr Awan drew the attention of the court to the possible danger to the life of Shaista on which Khuda Bakhsh was directed by the court to ensure safety of her life.
Khuda Bakhsh again assured the court that he would take maximum care to protect her.