The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday barred police from harassing an Indian woman and her husband after the couple filed a petition alleging illegal raids and pressure to end their marriage. The woman, a former Sikh who converted to Islam to marry her Pakistani husband, claimed that law enforcement officials in Farooqabad, Sheikhupura district, had conducted two raids on their home on November 8 and 11.
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The petition, filed on November 12 under Article 199 of the Constitution, named Punjab’s inspector general of police (IGP), regional police officers, district police officers (DPOs), station house officers (SHOs), and another resident of Farooqabad as respondents. The couple alleged that the raids and harassment were instigated based on the woman’s former religion and that the police pressured them to dissolve their marriage.
Justice Farooq Haider, hearing the petition, directed the police to stop harassing the petitioners. The petition emphasized that police officers are constitutionally obligated to protect the life and liberty of citizens under Articles 9 and 35, which guarantee personal security and protection of the family. It further noted that the husband is a Pakistani citizen and that his wife had applied for an extended visa and Pakistani nationality.
The petition argued that the respondents’ actions violated the couple’s fundamental rights and could cause “irreparable loss and injury” if not restrained. The LHC was asked to direct authorities to refrain from interfering with the petitioners’ matrimonial life and provide any other relief deemed appropriate.
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The case comes amid rising concerns over the safety of religious minorities in Pakistan. An August report by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) highlighted increasing violence against minorities, including targeted killings and alleged extra-judicial actions by police, underscoring the need for law enforcement reform and accountability.