Molly's father contests custody decision
Saturday, 02 Dec 2006 19:41
Molly and Louise Campbell are set to be reunited
In Focus
Just as they did in southern Lebanon in the summer of 2006, the Israeli army is dominating headlines by pursuing military action against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Full Story
The father of Scottish schoolgirl Molly Campbell, who is also known as Misbah Rana, has appealed against a court ruling that she must be returned to her mother.
Pakistan's high court decided on Wednesday that the 12-year-old should return to the Western Isles in Scotland to live with Louise Campbell, from whom she ran away in order to live with her father in the south Asian country.
But Sajad Ahmed Rana is appealing to the court to reverse its decision, saying his daughter is "devastated" by the decision.
The court in Lahore ruled that the British High Commission should have custody of Molly within the next seven days, after which she should be reunited with her mother.
"I don't know if it will mean that my daughter doesn't have to go home until the appeal is heard but I hope this is the case," said Mr Rana.
"All I can do is hope really. I have to fight to the end for my daughter. This is what she wants me to do."
Molly has herself said she is "upset and angry" at the ruling. She had earlier told reporters that she ran away from the home she shared with her mother because she wanted to be with her family in Pakistan.
Her disappearance on August 26th led to a high-profile police search for her, but it emerged shortly afterwards that she was with her father in Pakistan
She travelled there with the help of her 18-year-old sister after running away from her Stornoway school.