PESHAWAR, May 20: A row between a Christian man and his recently converted wife took an interesting turn on Saturday when the man also embraced Islam and their nikkah was solemnised in a local court.

The controversy surfaced a few days ago when the man, Emmunal Jalkar, whose Muslim name is Abdullah, sought help from human rights groups and the media, claiming that his wife had been abducted on May 8 by a man from the Takhtbhai area, Mardan, who had forcibly converted her to Islam.

The woman had rejected the allegation and told journalists in Takhtbhai that she had not been abducted by anyone and that she left her home of her own free will.

The woman, Ms Rani, whose Muslim name is Fatima, had appeared before the court of additional district and sessions judge Fazal Sattar Khan and stated that she had converted to Islam about 10 days ago of her own free will and that there was no pressure on her.

Mr Jalkar, who is a dental technician and lives in the Gulberg area, had filed an application under sections 22-A and 491 of the Criminal Procedure Code before the court, seeking registration of an FIR and production of his wife in the court.

He alleged that he had dispute over money with a man, Shaukat, due to which he had taken away his wife and two daughters. He said that his daughters were later returned but his wife still remained with the person.

The application was filed through Human Rights Commission of Pakistan vice-chairperson Kamran Arif who contended that the woman should be produced before the court for recording her statement.

The court, after recording the statement of the woman on Saturday, informed the applicant that his wife had wilfully embraced Islam and she no longer wanted to live with him. Mr Jalkar, 35, told the court that he was also willing to convert to Islam.

He said that after the conversion of his wife he had closely observed Islam and he was now eager to embrace Islam.

The court asked his counsel if he had any objection. Mr Arif said that it was his fundamental right to adopt a religion of his choice and if he wanted to embrace Islam nobody could stop him from doing so.

The judge asked the woman if she would live with him after his conversion to Islam.

She replied in the affirmative and said that they had three children and that she had left her home only because of the religion.

On the order of the judge, a prayer leader performed their nikkah in the court.