Pakistan cops foil attempt to marry off minor girl to 72-year-old man
File photo of Pakistan Police personnel.
Police in Pakistan's Charsadda town foiled an attempt to marry off a 12-year-old girl to a 72-year-old man. A report by ARY News said that the girl's father agreed to sell her to the elderly man for $1,799 (PKR 500,000).
The report said that before the Nikah (the religious ceremonyrequired by Islamic law to unite a Muslim man and woman in holy matrimony), the police intervened and arrested the 72-year-old groom.
The minor's father managed to flee the scene. A case was registered against him and the groom under the Child Marriage Act.
Despite the existence of laws to prevent child marriages,severalsuch incidents have been reported in Pakistan.
ARY News reported that recently, law enforcement agenciesfoiled attempts of forcibly marrying off young girls to older men inRajanpur and Thatta.
On May 6, the police arrested a 70-year-old man for marrying a 13-year-old girl in Swat. The girl was being forcibly married by her father.
The report said thatthe police swung into action and took the groom and father of the minor girl into custody.
The witness of the marriage was also taken into custody while the girlwas sent to a hospital for a medical check-up.
(With inputs from agencies)