The Lahore High Court has restrained police officers from harassing Sarbjit Kaur – now Noor – a former Sikh woman who, after embracing Islam, married Nasir Hussain – a resident of Sheikhupura district. Justice Farooq Haider made the order while hearing a petition filed by Noor and her husband, whom she married on November 5.
In his petition, Noor alleged that the police authorities, acting at the behest of respondent Riaz and members of the Sikh community of Nankana Sahib, raided their home and caused harassment. She said that during the November 8 raid, she was pressured to dissolve her marriage, even though the couple had married by consent.
During the hearing, the petitioners’ lawyer informed the court that the Indian citizen had arrived in Pakistan for religious rituals, later converted to Islam of her own free will and solemnized her marriage with Nasir. It must be noted that thousands of Sikh pilgrims had visited Pakistan this month to celebrate the 554th birth anniversary of the founder of Sikhism, Baba Guru Nanak.
The lawyer further stressed that the November 8 police raid was illegal and that Noor had married entirely by choice, leaving authorities with no right to interfere in the couple’s personal lives. The petitioners asked the court to prevent further harassment. After hearing the arguments, the LHC ordered the police officers to refrain from harassing Noor or taking any coercive action against the couple.
