British girl to stay in Pakistan until custody awarded

LAHORE, Sep 26 (Reuters) A Pakistani court today barred a Scottish girl at the centre of a custody row from being taken outside the eastern city of Lahore and ordered the surrender of her passport until the case is settled.

MollyCampbell, 12, who is known by the Muslim side of her family as Misbah Irum Ahmed Rana, left her mother in Scotland last month to be with her father and older sister in Pakistan.

The court issued the order in response to a petition filed by Campbell's elder sister, who sought a protection order because of fears police might take the girl from her father and send her back to her mother in Britain.

''The court ordered Misbah's father not to take her outside the court's jurisdiction and to submit her passport at the next hearing,'' Rao Badar Munir, one of the girl's lawyers, told Reuters.

The court was adjourned until October 9.

Louise Campbell, the girl's mother and legal guardian, has also filed a case of illegal custody against her ex-husband, Sajjad Ahmed Rana, and elder daughter, Tehmina, in Lahore High Court.

Pakistan and Britain signed an agreement in 2003 under which police and judicial authorities in both countries help each other solve some 400 such cases of disputes over children brought from Britain to Pakistan every year.

REUTERS AB BD1849