Humaira Khokar and her husband, Mahmud Butt were about to board a plane at Karachi airport bound for Dubai when they were reportedly taken away by armed men - believed to have been plain clothes policemen from the Punjab, the bride's home state.

Police officials said the couple - who have been living in hiding - were trying to jump bail.

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Nawaz Sharif: Humaira's father is a politician in the prime minister's party

The couple have been front-page news in Pakistan for several months. Mahmud and Humaira fell in love and secretly married before fleeing the bride's home last year.

They have been in Karachi, fearing that her family will find them and kill them. They had talked of leaving the country possibly for New York where Mahmoud's family is based.

Their current whereabouts are unknown since their arrest and human rights activists say they fear for their safety.

Accusations of adultery

"If anything happens to the couple, this will be a very bad human rights record for the Nawaz Sharif government," said Tahira Shahid Khan, programme coordinator of the Shirkat Gah Women's Resource Centre.

Hamaira's father is a Punjab provincial assembly member for the Pakistan Moslem League, the party of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He has refused to accept the marriage.

Humaira has been accused of adultery by a cousin who says she is already married to him. She denies this.