Pakistan, July 4 -- The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday laid down important legal principles for lower courts adjudicating disputed love marriage cases, ruling that a registered nikahnama or even a woman's earlier harassment petition cannot, by themselves, conclusively establish a valid marriage where allegations of abduction, coercion or forced marriage are raised.

The court held that judges must go beyond documentary evidence and determine whether the woman's consent was free, voluntary and completely free from coercion. It directed trial courts to examine how the alleged relationship originated, whether the parties genuinely knew each other and whether the circumstances supported a claim of consensual marriage.

The LHC further rule...