Molly's mother drops custody case

The Scottish mother of tug-of-love schoolgirl Molly Campbell today dropped her case for full custody of her daughter.

A court in Pakistan heard Louise Campbell had decided not to pursue the case in return for regular access to her daughter.

Lawyer Nahida Mahboob Ellahi said after the Supreme Court hearing in Islamabad today: "I have made an offer on behalf of my client that she will not insist on full custody provided regular meetings with her daughter take place."

Molly, 12, also known as Misbah Rana, has been at the centre of an international custody battle since she left the Western Isles to live with her father in Pakistan in August.

She arrived in the city of Lahore after fleeing her mother's home on the Isle of Lewis.

Lahore High Court ruled in December that the schoolgirl should go back to live with her mother.

Her father, Sajad Rana, was expected to find out today if an appeal against the decision to return her to Scotland would be heard.

Lawyers for both parents will now discuss access arrangements before the case calls again on January 17.

Ms Ellahi said: "Both parties will then come back to discuss arrangements before the judge."

The lawyer has argued that Misbah should be allowed to speak to her mother on the phone at any time.

"A phone number should be provided for Mrs Campbell to call her any time," she said.

Misbah did not attend today's hearing.