Minor Hindu girl can go back to family after surety bond of Rs 2 lakh: Pak court

Amritsar: A Pakistani court has ordered that a minor Hindu girl, who alleged that she was forced to marry a Muslim man, can be handed over to her family, if the family paid a surety bond of Rs 2 lakh.

Mehak Kumari alias Nanki Kumar, said she was forced to embrace Islam and was rechristened as Alezah and married to a Muslim man Ali Raza Solangi. On Thursday, at the Sindh high court hearing, Mehak refused to live with Solangi, following which the judge directed the management of Panah Shelter Home to handover Mehak to her mother Kanta Kumari but only if Kanta furnished a bond of Rs 2 lakh for girl’s safety.

A Pakistani Hindu leader on condition of anonymity told TOI, “The Hindu family is the victim and yet court asked them to furnish a bond of Rs 2 lakh if the family wanted custody of girl. This is injustice.”

Fifteen-year-old Mehak is the daughter of Vijay Kumar, who runs a small medical store in Jacobabd city in Sindh province of Pakistan. She was allegedly abducted by 28-year-old Solangi on January 15. Solangi, who had already married twice and has four children, married Mehak on Jaunary 17, the nikah ceremony was performed at Dargah Imrot Sharif. A video of Mehak’s nikah with Solangi was uploaded on social media, which sparked protests from Hindu community in Jacobabad.

The Hindu leader said in the Nikahnama, Mehak’s age was registered as 18, however, during medical examination, the girl was found to be between 15 and 16 years of age.

Mehak in her statement recorded in court said she had been staying in Panah Shelter Home for the last six months and said she wanted to go back to her family and that Solangi had spoiled her life.

Mehak’s family had got an FIR registered against Solangi under the Child Marriage Restrain Act 2013.