Forced marriage: 12-year-old’s marriage prevented

Girl's father said he could not think of a better way to settle a Rs80,000 loan he had taken.


Our Correspondent April 19, 2012

BAHAWALPUR:


Rajanpur City police on Thursday prevented the marriage of a 12-year-old child (with her paternal aunt’s son) arranged by her father to settle a loan.


Investigation Officer Akbar Khan said the parents of the child and the man she was to be married to had been called to the police station on Friday (today) to settle the matter. He said an FIR might be registered and the families prosecuted if the talks were unsuccessful. He said the action was taken on an application from the child, a student of grade 8. The IO said the girl had refused to go to a shelter home. Talking to The Express Tribune, the child said she did not want to get married so early in her life.

Her father said he could not think of a better way to settle a Rs80,000 loan he had taken. “My brother-in-law promised to pay back the loan if I agreed to marry her to his son,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 20th, 2012.

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