Pakistani court leaves British girl with dad for now

LAHORE, Sep 30 (Reuters) A Pakistani guardian court in the central city of Lahore today allowed the father of a 12-year old Scottish girl to retain temporary custody of her for three more weeks, court officials said.

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

Louise Campbell, the girl's legal guardian, did not come to Pakistan to fight the case, but her lawyer had asked the guardian court to reverse its earlier decision to grant temporary custody to the father, Sajjad Ahmed Rana.

Rana was granted the extension in order to give time for his lawyer to reply to Campbell's objections.

The judge repeated his earlier direction that Molly should not be brought to court unless called, and her father was the only relative to attend today's proceedings.

Campbell has also filed a case of illegal custody against her ex-husband and elder daughter, Tehmina, in the Lahore High Court, which is expected to hear the case on October 9.

Last Tuesday, the High Court barred Molly from being taken outside the city and ordered the surrender of her passport until the case is settled.

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

REUTERS MQA PA RAI1349