Love marriage couple alleges police coercion, abuse

RAWALPINDI: A couple who said they entered into a love marriage has accused police in Rawalpindi of coercion, unlawful detention and mistreatment months after their court marriage, and has appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for justice.

Muhammad Usman, 23, a resident of Amarpura, and 20-year-old Maimoona said they solemnised their court marriage on September 17 last year. According to the couple, the bride’s family later accepted the marriage, but the groom’s father continued to oppose it.

The couple said Maimoona’s rukhsati took place on March 29, 2026. They alleged, however, that before that, Waris Khan Police Station had registered a theft case on March 16, 2026, despite the marriage having taken place about six months earlier.

The case was initially lodged against unidentified persons on the complaint of the groom’s father, Muhammad Ramzan. It was later amended to name his two sons, Farhan and Usman, along with his daughter-in-law, Maimoona.

Allegations against police

Speaking to The Express Tribune, the couple alleged that the investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Iftikhar, counted the bride’s salami, or customary gift money, among the items shown as recovered in the case.

Usman said he was arrested within 24 hours of the rukhsati and was placed on an eight-day physical remand. He alleged that during this period, private individuals were allowed to assault him inside the police station with police acquiescence.

He further claimed that while on remand, the investigating officer subjected him to severe pressure, including physical coercion, in an effort to force him to divorce his wife.

Maimoona alleged that she was kept at the police station until 2am without any female police personnel present. She said both she and her husband were put under intense pressure to separate.

The couple also alleged that they were mistreated by police personnel in the presence of the groom’s father.

Court proceedings and police response

A local court granted bail to Usman on April 18, while Maimoona had already obtained interim bail.

Responding to the allegations, Sub-Inspector Iftikhar denied wrongdoing and maintained that recoveries had been made from the bride, including jewellery, and that the complainant had identified those items.

The allegations surfaced after the registration of the theft case at Waris Khan Police Station and subsequent proceedings involving the couple and members of the groom’s family.