Decisive action: Cell set up to curb unlawful marriages

Registrars instructed to obtain permission before performing nikkah

CHITRAL: A cell has been established in Chitral to curb unlawful marriages of girls to men from other parts of the country.

This was stated in a notification issued from the DPO’s office on Sunday.

The initiative has been taken by the district administration and the police. The cell will comprise elders, police officials and religious leaders.

Speaking about the development, Chitral DPO Asif Iqbal said the cell was established after people from various districts of K-P and other provinces married girls after offering money to their families.

“This practice is especially common among people who come from Punjab,” he said. “Many people from Punjab marry girls from Chitral after offering money to their parents.”



Iqbal added this practice was creating problems for girls and their families. “The cell has been set up at the DPO’s office,” he said. “It will be headed by the security branch incharge.”

He added the cell will coordinate with the district prevention committee over illegal marriages. “Following approval from the cell and the committee, men and women will be allowed to marry.”

Meanwhile, the district administration also instructed registrars not to perform nikkah without obtaining permission from the cell. If they failed to do so, legal action will be taken against them.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2016.