Court instructs police to ensure no interference in couple’s private life
LHC stops police from harassing Islam-convert Indian woman
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday barred police from harassing an Indian Sikh woman who embraced Islam, adopted the name Noor Bibi, and married a Pakistani man, Nasir Hussain, of her own choice.
The court intervened after the couple alleged that police had been conducting illegal raids and exerting pressure to end their marriage.
Justice Farooq Haider heard the petition, in which the couple sought protection and accused law-enforcement officials of violating their fundamental rights.
Petition Alleges Illegal Raid, Pressure to End Marriage
According to the petition, police officers unlawfully raided the couple’s home on November 8, without a warrant or legal authority.
Noor Bibi and her husband claimed that officers attempted to pressure her into ending the marriage, despite it being lawful and consensual.
The couple argued that no government department had the right to interfere in their religious conversion, marriage, or private life.
After reviewing the petition, the Lahore High Court ordered police authorities to cease harassment and take no coercive action against the couple.
The court further instructed police to ensure no unlawful interference in their domestic life.
Background: Missing From Pilgrims’ Group
The case gained attention after Noor Bibi formerly Surjeet (Sarabjit) Kaur, a 52-year-old Sikh from India’s Kapurthala district went missing from a group of Sikh pilgrims visiting Pakistan for the 555th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.
Nearly 1,992 pilgrims crossed into Pakistan on November 4, but when the group returned on November 13, she was not among them.
A document has since surfaced, allegedly showing her conversion to Islam, renaming as Noor, and marriage to Nasir Hussain in Sheikhupura.
The authenticity of the document, however, has not been independently verified.
Indian authorities have taken notice, with immigration records showing no exit for her return to India. A preliminary report has been shared with Indian agencies, and the Indian mission has contacted Pakistani officials regarding her disappearance.
Protecting Civil Rights & Personal Freedoms
The case has sparked debate over police overreach, with legal experts arguing that state institutions must respect citizens’ and visitors’ rights to choose their faith, spouse, and private life without intimidation.
Critics emphasise that if police truly conducted unauthorized raids, it highlights a deeper problem of unchecked authority, where personal freedoms and court protections are ignored.
Analysts stress that such incidents undermine public trust and reinforce the need for stronger accountability mechanisms within Punjab’s policing system.