RAWALPINDI:
A bride is said to have fled from the Nasirabad police station area with a considerable sum of money from her groom on the first day of her wedding on Monday.
According to police, Azeem Hasan reported that a man named Ghulam Rasool, also known as Sikandar, introduced him to Tahir Abbas, who was introduced as the bride’s father. Rasool told Azeem that there was a poor and unmarried girl if he wanted to get married and he agreed. Six other people were introduced as the bride’s close relatives who had made the arrangements. On the wedding day, Azeem’s family, including his parents and other relatives, arrived at the venue on Misrial Road in Rawalpindi with the traditional wedding procession (barat).
During the ceremony, Azeem presented a substantial amount of money and gifts to Ghulam Rasool, Ayesha Bibi, Tahir Abbas and others. The items included Rs. 250,000, three tolas of gold ornaments, seven pairs of clothes worth Rs. 120,000, five pairs of shoes worth Rs. 20,000 and additional cosmetic items worth Rs. 50,000. The Nikkah ceremony was performed, introducing Ayesha Bibi as an unmarried woman. After the ceremony, Azeem took Ayesha to his native village.
Azeem narrated that soon after arriving in his village, Ayesha claimed that her father, a heart patient, had suffered a sudden heart attack and was seriously ill. She asked for permission to go away for a few days to take care of him and promised to return soon. Concerned for her father’s well-being, Azeem agreed. Ayesha packed her belongings, including the clothes, shoes and jewellery she had received during the wedding. She also asked Azeem for Rs 100,000 in cash as she might need it for her father’s medical treatment. Azeem handed over the money to him and they set off together.
When they reached Misrial Road in Rawalpindi, Ayesha asked Azeem to wait while she dropped off some things at her aunt’s house. She promised to come back soon so that they could go to the hospital together. However, Azeem waited for a while but Ayesha did not come back. Her mobile phone was switched off, which confused Azim.
Later, Azeem tried to contact Ayesha’s father and Ghulam Rasool, but their mobile numbers were also switched off. When Azeem realised that he had been duped, he reported the incident to the police, who confirmed that Ayesha, her alleged father and Ghulam Rasool had previously robbed innocent men under the pretext of marriage.
Police have filed charges against the three suspects and are conducting raids to arrest them.
