FCC questions integrity of Nadra records in custody case

“Who says Nadra records cannot be tampered with?” wondered Justice Aamer Farooq while hearing a habeas corpus petition regarding the custody of a minor girl, Ayesha Tariq, who had converted from Christianity to Islam.

Justice Farooq was heading a two-judge FCC bench that also comprised Justice K.K. Agha.

During the hearing, senior counsel Muhammad Saqib Jillani, representing the girl’s parents, argued that Ayesha was underage, adding that a Nadra certificate to this effect had been placed on record. He also expressed concern that the girl might have married.

Orders shifting of newly converted Muslim girl to Darul Aman in habeas corpus plea

Additional Advocate General Punjab Waseem Mumtaz Malik, however, submitted that if the girl was under 18, she should be sent to her parents; otherwise, she should be placed in Darul Aman, Lahore.

Justice Farooq questioned the reliability of Nadra records, remarking that they could be manipulated. “Go to Nadra and get whatever you want done — anything can happen in this country,” he observed, adding that such practices were, unfortunately, prevalent in society.

“We cannot accept that tampering with Nadra records is not possible,” Justice Farooq said, noting that such records could not be relied upon to determine age, as it was common for parents to understate their children’s ages in official documents.

The FCC ordered that an ossification test be conducted to determine the girl’s actual age. In the meantime, she will be kept at Darul Aman, Lahore, instead of the beauty parlour where she is currently residing, until the test results are received. The court, however, allowed her parents to meet her there.

The test is to be conducted within a week, the court directed.

During the hearing, the girl claimed she was 20 years old.

Police officials informed the FCC that her father had registered a kidnapping case in which her age was recorded as 18. The girl contended that two years had passed since her conversion to Islam and argued that if she had intended to marry, she would have done so by now. She further claimed her actual year of birth was 2007, not 2011 as stated in the records before the court.

“Conversion to Islam is a separate matter, but why did the girl leave home?” Justice K.K. Agha asked. The girl replied that she left due to pressure from her parents to revert to Christianity. Justice Agha observed that the real issue appeared to be intimidation and coercion.

When asked by Justice Farooq where she lived and how she earned her livelihood, the girl said she worked at a beauty parlour where she also resided.

Justice Farooq cautioned that making false statements before the court could lead to imprisonment.

The court also expressed concern when the girl stated that the parlour owner provided shelter to other girls as well. The FCC adjourned the hearing until May 20.