By Asem Mustafa

Aruna and Moazzam exercised their freedom and got married but their actions exposed all that happens in land of the pure Pakistan where corrupt practices brings a bad name to none other then the religion Islam.

The couple was arrested and released and the entire happening exposed the society and the mindset of the people who used and abused the power of their offices.

Aruna 24 year old medical student ran away from home and married Moazzam an engineer by profession in Hyderabad. Hailing from feudal background Aruna’s father a retired judge in Okara objected to the marriage and used the coercive methods to declare the social contract null and void.

The couple was booked and arrested under Hadood Laws in Hyderabad. Aruna case got attention as she had the media taking the interest in the events and higher court offices got involved to resolve the issue on sou moto grounds.

It must be mentioned here that the case also exposed the corrupt legal system in the land of the pure where anything can happen to anyone having the right connections.The strong-arm tactics employed by the law enforcing authority, the police showed that anything is possible under the sun.

The corrupt practice was done under the cover of Islamic law (Hadood Ordinance), which has been in the constitution of Pakistan and has raised enough concern from liberals and west while the religious leaders not changing their stand on it. The law is very clear but it’s the application as when applied in the circumstances makes it always controversial.

The case in actual is nothing but marriage against parents wish and a girl who after failing to convince her parents ran away from home and stayed with his life partner to be. The case got the twist when they were booked under Islamic law ‘Hadood Ordinance” in which her husband was accused of abduction besides other family members and she under coercion was asked to seek ‘Khula’ separation.

The fact needs special mentioning as cases under Hadood Laws are always contested and heated debates are there as not all facts are presented before court and the sentences carried out on the crooked and fabricated details always left a lot to be desired.The details are very brief as why this case made headlines but it left a big question mark on the mind set of society, which has divided opinions.

Some are of the opinion that what she did was right and others are of the view that what she did was wrong as whom did she fight against, her own parents.

The extremes of differences has the parents from both sides fighting in court and Aruna in particular showed resistance against her father who objected to the marriage very strongly. The two have asked for only one thing and that is to flee from Pakistan as they fear for their lives in Pakistan and are afraid that they will be harmed.

Aruna has said that if any harm comes to her husband Moazzam or herself the only person responsible for that would be her father.

Aruna has won but whom did she defeat her own parents who brought her up and when they ask her to leave Moazzam she left them instead. The media role and law need special mentioning as how the facts were twisted and how in the end the Islam came under criticism.

There is no harm in love marriage but there are ways to do that and Aruna lost the love of her family to gain Moazzam. Moazzam stayed quiet when she was in parental custody for months and all the show was created when she made a dramatic escape last month to reach Moazzam.

Who got the attention this scribe leaves it to readers Aruna, Moazzam or Islam?