Following the revelation, the LHC had ordered the DIG concerned to produce the couple in the court.
After their ‘marriage’, the purported husband had approached the LHC to seek protection against the alleged pressure being exerted on ‘him’ at the behest of bride’s father.
Police claimed to have arrested the couple at a picket set up at the Ravi Road, Lahore.
Talking to media men at Jhang Bazaar police station, where the couple had been detained for their production in the LHC on May 22, they vowed to fight for justice.
Shezina Tariq, the bride, a master-degree holder in Islamic Studies, said Shumail Raj (the she-husband) was her first cousin.
She categorically denied that she was kidnapped by Shumail for marriage.
Narrating the circumstances which led to her ‘marriage’ with Shumail, she said: “I proposed Shumail for marriage because of the evil designs of my father Tariq Hussain who wanted to give my hand in marriage to a brother-in-law of my uncle for Rs1.5 million and threatened to kill me on refusal.”
“It was the fear of forced marriage which compelled me to convince Shumail for marriage,” she said, adding: “I was fully aware of Shumail’s physical condition.”
“My family members subjected me to severe torture to get my consent for the forced marriage, but I refused. I had no other option but to marry Shumail, and we decided to approach the sessions court for the purpose.”
Shehzina apprehended that she would be murdered if she went back to her parents.
Shumail — who now wears a trimmed beard – had underwent two major genitals’ surgeries and wanted to move abroad for the third.
Shumail said they were being subjected to sheer injustice and added Shehzina’s helpless situation prompted ‘him’ to tie the knot. “We love each other,” he said.
“I informed her about my medical condition and clearly told her that she could not become a mother if she married me. Despite that, Shehzina gave her consent owing to fear of forced marriage,” he added.
Shumail said ‘he’ had been leading a man’s life and was treated as such. He said marriage with Shezina had put him in great trouble and his brother and niece were being implicated in fabricated cases to pressurise him.
He vowed to fight for justice at any cost.
Regarding a query about not attending the court proceedings, Shumail said it was media fear which forced us to stay away from the court till we were granted a bail.
Jhang Bazaar SHO Khalid said raids were on for the arrests of remaining accused in the case.