Shoaib Malik finds support from NGO working for ‘harassed’ husbands

Amidst the muddle surrounding his marriage with tennis ace Sania Mirza, Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik has received an unexpected support from a non-governmental organisation (NGO) which fights for ‘harassed husbands’.

The Save Indian Family Foundation (SIFF) has come in support of Shoaib, who has been accused of ‘fraud’ and ‘cheating’ by a Hyderabad based girl, Ayesha Siddiqui, who claims to be Shoaib’s first wife.

The SIFF has demanded immediate withdrawal of case filed against Shoaib, and scrapping the Section 498(A) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) under which complaints have been lodged.

A statement issued by the NGO said scrapping the particular section of the IPC would not harm women, as real victims of dowry harassment or cruelty have access to the Dowry Prohibition Act and Domestic Violence Act to seek protection and justice.

“What crime did Shoaib commit that he is victimised in this way?How can someone force a marriage on a man? If Shoaib and Ayesha were married, where are the pictures of marriage? Moreover, whether Ayesha Siddiqui’s claims are false or true is up to a family court or civil court to decide and give a judgement. Where do police come into picture?” the statement said.

The NGO said that marriage disputes before, during and after marriage were civil disputes and they had to be tried under a civil court.