HYDERABAD, April 4: A woman, who has recently embraced Islam and married a man of her choice, has appealed to the authorities for protection saying her family has fabricated a case against her husband and in-laws.

Speaking at a news conference with her husband Wazir Ali Khaskheli, Nasreen Fatima claimed that she was 18 and had every right to marry the man of her choice and no one had any right to interfere in her personal matters.

Fatima of Maldesi Goth taluka Shahdadpur said she had embraced Islam before Maulana Abu Hamad Mufti Ahmed Mian Barkati and signed an affidavit on May 2 in this regard in the court of the civil judge and Hyderabad judicial magistrate.

Fatima claimed that after conversion to Islam, she had married Wazir Ali the same day with her own free will. She also showed photocopies of her affidavit and Nikah Nama, and a certificate of her conversion to Islam.

She said her family had fabricated a case of kidnapping against her husband and his relatives, and police had arrested her father-in-law Karim Bux Khaskheli and a close relative, Porho Gullan.

Fatima said she had not been abducted and had embraced Islam and married Wazir Ali of her own free will.

She appealed to the authorities for help to release her father-in-law and others arrested in the case of her abduction.

She told newsmen that some influential persons were exerting undue pressure on her husband and in-laws and threatened that she would commit suicide if any one tried to sent her back home.

LECTURERS: The Sindh University Teachers Association has taken strong exception to withholding of development funds of three public sector universities of the province by the Higher Education Commission.

A meeting of the executive committee of the association held here on Thursday reviewed the situation arising out of the stoppage of funds.

Professor Dr Mohammad Saleem Chandio, presiding over the meeting, said that all the promotions and appointments in the university were made in accordance with the rules and regulations of the statutory body of the university.

It demanded that instead of issuing threats, the HEC should consult the authorities of the universities on these matters.

It said the HEC was only a funding body whereas the rules and regulations for appointments in different cadres were approved by the Senate and syndicate of the universities. It threatened to launch protests against the commission if the HEC did not withdraw its directives immediately.