THE father of former Blackburn schoolgirl Molly Campbell has been given temporary custody of the 12-year-old by a court in Pakistan.

The youngster flew to the country to live with her father after fleeing her mother's home in Scotland two weeks ago.

Lahore's civil court yesterday granted her father, Sajad Ahmed Rana, custody until at least September 30.

Judge Amir Javed Rana, who is not related to the girl's family, made the order because Molly's mother failed to appear in court for a custody hearing.

The High Court in Lahore asked Pakistani authorities and the British High Commission in the country if there were any attempts underway to return Molly, who lived in the Daisyfield area of Blackburn until 2001, against her will.

The disapp-earance last month of the schoolgirl from her Stornoway home, on the Isle of Lewis, sparked an internatio-nal hunt involving Interpol, and has triggered a bitter custody battle between her parents, who divorced about five years ago.

Molly, who is also known as Misbah Iram Ahmed Rana, was picked up by her 18-year-old sister Tahmina, who lives in Pakistan.

The pair flew from the Western Isles to Glasgow, where they met their father, then on to Lahore.

Molly signed a statement saying she arrived in Pakistan on August 26 under her own free will.

The schoolgirl also said her mother's home had become a "living hell", and that her father's Islamic culture in Pakistan suited her more.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said there were no plans to forcibly repatriate Molly.

She added: "We recognise the authority of the Pakistani courts."