By Ali Imran Abbasi
ISLAMABAD: A teenage girl from Murree, identifying herself as Arzoo, has accused her maternal aunt and other relatives of attempting to forcibly marry her off to a man she neither knew nor accepted, alleging illegal detention, coercion, and a monetary offer of Rs700,000 to her family to gain her consent. In a desperate call for justice, she says she was locked in a room, denied access to her phone, and barred from making a national identity card while authorities allegedly ignored her pleas.
According to Arzoo, her aunt, Nosheen Zeeshan—residing in Muzaffarabad—took her from Murree under the pretext of a temporary visit and allegedly tried to coerce her into marrying a man named Zafar Abbas, whose identity remains unclear. When Arzoo refused, she claims she was sent back to her parents and then subjected to further pressure, as family members were allegedly offered money to force her into marriage.
Arzoo also alleges that she was detained in a locked room and intimidated, with no contact allowed with the outside world. She says her identification documents were deliberately withheld to limit her independence. “I was not allowed to talk to anyone. They tried everything to make me agree,” she said in an emotional video appeal.
Despite filing complaints with local police in Muzaffarabad, she says law enforcement officials showed little interest. “The SHO, DSP, and other officials misbehaved with me,” she added, alleging that one officer even advised her to “just agree to the marriage.” She questioned whether the same advice would be given if it were the officer’s own daughter or sister.
Arzoo is now seeking protection at her grandmother’s house in Murree and has appealed directly to PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz, asking for personal intervention and protection for herself and her family, who she says are being targeted with false cases and threats.
“This is not just about me,” Arzoo said. “It’s about every girl who refuses forced marriage and deserves justice, not silence.”
