KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday ordered to constitute a medical board to determine the age of Arzoo Fatima, a girl claimed to be converted forcefully and had married of her own free will. SHC bench headed by Justice K K Agha heard the case. During the hearing, Arzoo Fatima and Ali Azhar, 44-year-old were produced before the court.

The girl repeated her statement in the court that she was 18 years of age. "A medical board will be constituted to determine and decide about Arzoo's age," Justice Agha said. "I was not abducted by anyone," Arzoo Fatima said and requested the court for permission to stay with her husband. Barrister Salahuddin appeared before the court in the case hearing on behalf of Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari. The bench ordered constitution of a medical board to determine the age of the girl.

"She should be sent for medical examination in the supervision of lady police," the court ordered. The bench adjourned hearing of the case till November 9. The parents of the girl claimed that Arzoo Raja alias Arzoo Fatima, a 13-year-old Christian girl, was abducted and forced to convert and marry to a Muslim man Ali Azhar.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020