Court orders protection for sisters after honour killing attempt

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court ordered on Monday the IG to provide security to two Gujranwala sisters who approached the court seeking protection against their family. Lawyer Khawar Ameer Bukhari had submitted a petition in the case on Friday on behalf of Malika Fatima and Maryam Fatima. Malika had married a man of her own choice on January 10, 2019. Her family, however, was not happy with the relationship and wanted them to get a divorce.
The lawyer said that their father and brothers tried to murder them for bringing ‘dishonour’ to the family. Malika received 30 stitches on her head after she was beaten, the lawyer said. Malika told the court that a jirga in Lodhran has held her husband Muqaddas Yaseen captive.
During the hearing, the public lawyer argued that the case is of Punjab and not Islamabad. “If the Punjab government isn’t providing them security should we also leave them helpless?†asked Justice Athar Minallah. Everyone will be held responsible if anything happens to these women, he added. The Islamabad police said that they conducted the medical tests of the two sisters and shifted them to a shelter. The court has ordered the SSP to submit a progress report in the case on June 10.