M A I N   N E W S

Gudia goes back to Arif

Taufiq Ali and Gudia. — A Tribune photograph

New Delhi, September 21
The tension and suspense in the lives of three persons — Army sappar Mohammad Arif, his wife Gudia and her second husband Taufiq — came to an end tonight, with Gudia deciding as per Shariyat to go back to Arif, who agreed to accept her yet-to-be-born child out of her marriage with Taufiq.

Gudia’s decision was endorsed by Deoband ulemas at a meeting of all parties concerned hosted by a private TV channel.

The meeting was attended by Muslim intellectuals, scholars and women groups who deliberated in detail over all possible options under the Shariyat and protect the rights of all concerned.

Deoband ulemas said according to Shariyat, Gudia’s marriage to Arif still stood valid and she could go with him without any religious procedures.

However, the child would be a legitimate issue of Taufiq and all Shariyat laws for upbringing of such child would apply.

“I will abide by Shariyat provision. I am Arif’s wife and will go with him,” decided Gudia. This was accepted by Taufiq with equanimity.

Arif, who was earlier reluctant to accept Gudia’s yet-to-be-born child, later agreed that the child should stay with Gudia.

“If Taufiq does not want to keep the child, then I am ready to accept it.”

Taufiq said a child needed its mother’s care most, so it should remain with Gudia. However, he remained silent on whether he would bear the expenses for the upbringing of the child.

On this, Gudia interrupted: “Since the child will remain with us, we will bear the expenses.” Arif seconded her decision.

Earlier, Gudia’s father accepted that there were some lapses on his part in getting Gudia married to Taufiq without following Shariyat provisions in this regard.

Arif clarified that he had met Gudia after his return from Pakistani jail and told her that he still loved her and would accept her if she came back.

The issue had evoked a nationwide interest and provoked a debate on the rights and sentiments of various parties concerned.

Earlier, Taufeeq, the second husband of the remarried wife of Army jawan Mohammad Arif, and his parents demanded another panchayat to decide the fate of the baby to be born to Gudia and maintained that Taufeeq is her legal husband.

“Gudia is pregnant from our son and should be directed by the panchayat to deliver the baby in our house as Taufeeq is her legal husband,” his parents Ishtayaq and Manzauri told reporters here.

They said Gudia’s father Himamuddin had consented to his daughter’s marriage with their son in February 2001 without ‘talaq’ as Arif was “declared an absconder” by the army.

Taufeeq said Gudia was important to him and whatever decision was to be taken should be taken keeping her and the child’s interest in mind.

“She must have been under immense mental pressure from her family that might have forced her to decide to go with Arif. She never wanted to go back. We never had any problems, our family life was smooth,” Taufeeq said about Gudia, who has been restored to Arif after the panchayat’s decision two days ago.

Taufeeq’s uncle Anwar said “We have the right over Gudia. We have spent money on the marriage. Arif does not have any right.

“But if Gudia wants to go and if she gives her statement before the panchayat, we will let her go with anybody she wants”.

Himamuddin, who said he will abide by Islamic jurisprudence Shariat also maintained that he had obtained due permission from the local Islamic Maulvis who said that due to absence of talaq from Arif, Gudia was still his wife and that her marriage could not be legalised with Taufeeq. — UNI, PTI