Teenage Christian bride Arzoo Raja recovered, alleged husband detained

The Karachi police have recovered 13-year-old Christian girl Arzoo Raja and arrested the main accused Ali Azhar, who had allegedly abducted and married her after converting her to Islam.

Newsday Pakistan reported that the teenager will be sent to a Darul Aman (women’s shelter) as per the order of the Sindh High Court, which had directed police to recover Arzoo and present her in court on Nov 5.

On Monday, the Sindh High Court had asked the police to recover and produce Arzoo Raja in the court on Nov 5.

The CASE:

On Oct 27, a two-member bench of SHC had admitted a petition filed on behalf of Arzoo Raja that claimed that she was 18 years old and had married Ali Azhar and converted to Islam with her free will.

The petition also sought protection against alleged harassment of the girl’s family. Underage girls in such cases in Pakistan come under intense pressure, including threats to them and their families, to give false statements in court.

Azhar allegedly abducted Arzoo in Karachi’s Muhalla Railway Colony West Camp Road locality on Oct. 13, according to the family, which registered a kidnapping case on the same day. On Oct. 15 police summoned them to the local station and showed them documents claiming that Arzoo was 18 years old and had willingly converted to Islam after marrying Azhar.