A young couple from Sindh has appealed to law enforcement authorities for protection after claiming their lives are under serious threat following a love marriage solemnized in Khairpur.
According to details, Popri, daughter of Ramzan Solangi and a resident of Jungle Khan village in Jacobabad district, contracted a love marriage with Abdul Aziz, son of Riaz Mirani, in a Khairpur court. The couple stated that they decided to marry of their own free will after mutual consent, but their decision has allegedly enraged Popri’s family and relatives.
Speaking to the media, the couple said that Popri’s father Ramzan Solangi, along with relatives Islamuddin, Shehzado, Irfan, Zaheer, Shahid, and others, are threatening to kill them under the pretext of so-called “honour” (karokari). They further alleged that their opponents are also threatening to implicate them in false kidnapping and other fabricated criminal cases in order to separate them and punish them for marrying against family wishes.
The couple claimed that due to continuous threats and fear for their lives, they are being forced to live a life of displacement, moving from place to place to avoid possible attacks. “We are living in constant fear. Our only ‘crime’ is that we married each other with consent,” Abdul Aziz told reporters.
Popri said that instead of accepting her decision, her family has chosen violence and intimidation. “They are trying to kill us in the name of honour. We have done nothing illegal. We exercised our right to choose our life partner,” she said, adding that such threats are a violation of basic human and constitutional rights.
The couple emphasized that honour killings and related threats remain a serious issue in parts of rural Sindh, despite laws against the practice. They said that even today, many families resort to violence to enforce traditional norms, particularly against women who choose their own spouses.
Appealing to the authorities, the couple urged the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jacobabad, SSP Khairpur, and other relevant officials to take immediate notice of the situation. They demanded that legal action be taken against those issuing threats and that they be provided full security to live safely as husband and wife.
“We request the police and higher authorities to protect us before it is too late,” the couple said. “If anything happens to us, our families and those who are threatening us should be held responsible.”
Human rights activists have repeatedly highlighted that love marriages often place couples, especially women, at risk in conservative areas. Despite court marriages being legally valid, social pressure and tribal customs continue to endanger such couples.
The couple’s case once again raises serious questions about the enforcement of laws protecting adults’ right to marry by choice and the effectiveness of state institutions in preventing honour-based violence. Observers say that timely police intervention and strict legal action are essential to ensure the safety of the couple and to send a strong message against honour-related threats.
