Police produce ‘kidnapped’ minor girl before court after 75 days

GILGIT: After failure for over two months and fifteen days, the Gilgit police finally located and presented Falak Noor, a minor girl previously reported kidnaped, before a district and session court on Thursday.
During the court proceedings, the session judge opted for an in-camera hearing, a measure entailing the exclusion of journalists and lawyers from the courtroom, to record Noor’s statement.

The request to return Noor to her parents’ custody was made during the session; however, she expressed reluctance to accompany them. Consequently, the court decreed her temporary transfer to Darul Aman, a shelter home.

“Since Hon’ble GB Chief Court has taken cognizance in the matter and next date of hearing is fixed for 06-04-2024. Therefore, Falak Noor be kept in Darul Aman/Women Police Station Gilgit till 06-04-2024 and be produced before Hon’ble GB Chief Court on 06-04-2024,” reads a written judgment issued by the court. The court further instructed the station house officer (SHO) at the Women Police Station to prevent any unauthorized private meetings with Noor during this period.

Read more: Gilgit court extends deadline for producing kidnapped minor girl

In her statement to Judicial Magistrate Anum Zahra, Noor clarified that she had not been kidnapped but had left her parents’ residence voluntarily. She disclosed her marriage to Fareed Alam, a resident of Sultanabad, Gilgit, asserting it was of her own volition and expressed a desire to join her husband.
The court’s request for her statement drew criticism from Advocate Ehsan Ali, who argued that it lacked legal validity and informed the court of its legal status. Nonetheless, the judge maintained that the statement was sought for personal satisfaction.

Danyore Police Station House Officer Syed Kamran Hussain detailed the circumstances of Noor’s recovery to HUM News English. According to Hussain, intelligence suggested that Noor and her purported abductor entered Gilgit from the direction of Islamabad by car late Wednesday night. Acting on this tip, the Danyore police, in collaboration with the women’s police unit, apprehended her while allowing the male companion to leave, owing to his possession of pre-arrest bail valid until April 6. Contrary to official reports, there are claims suggesting their arrival in Gilgit occurred several days prior to the police operation. Following her recovery, the police presented Noor to the court, resulting in her assignment to Darul Aman for care and protection.

Background of the Case

Falak, daughter of Sakhi Ahmed Jan, had been missing since January 20, after she left her home in Sultan Area of Gilgit for a Quran study session and did not return. Following unsuccessful searches, the family filed a missing person report with the Danyore Police Station.

Subsequently, Jan was informed that Fareed Alam son of Azam Khan was suspected of abducting his daughter. On January 21, Jan filed an FIR against Fareed, accusing him of kidnapping Falak under false pretenses, as outlined in the complaint registered under section 364 A of the Pakistan Penal Code, which deals with the kidnapping or abducting of a person under fourteen.

Police apprehended Fareed’s father, while his uncle, alleged to have facilitated Noor’s abduction, received bail before arrest till April 6. However, in a twist on March 21, Noor stated through a media message that she had eloped with Fareed of her own free will, emphasizing that her actions were driven by love and not coercion. She declared her marriage to Fareed in Mansehra at a madrasa, challenging the claims about her being coerced or underage.

These statements were firmly rejected by her father and the High Court Bar Association of Gilgit-Baltistan, insisting that her claims, particularly regarding her age, were made under duress.

On March 25, a legal petition was filed with the Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court seeking urgent judicial intervention for Noor’s recovery and safe return. The Chief Justice of the Chief Court, Ali Baig, mandated on March 26 that the police ensure Noor’s court appearance by April 2. When the police failed to comply by April 2, the court extended the deadline to April 6. Contrary to the final deadline, the police presented Noor before a session court on April 4, ahead of the stipulated date.