Police foil bid to marry off underage girl

Parents, Nikah Khwan held after call to virtual police station

LAHORE:

Pakistan's first Virtual Women Police Station, established at the Punjab Safe Cities Authority helped arrest a couple arranging the marriage of their 12-year-old daughter. According to sources, the parents were marrying the underage girl to a foreign national for financial gain. A call was received from the neighbours at the Virtual Women Police Station. The staff immediately dispatched police to the scene.

The police stopped the forced marriage, detained the girl's parents and the Nikah Khwan, and initiated legal proceedings. A spokesperson said the virtual police station is active round the clock to resolve issues including harassment, domestic violence, forced marriage and acid attacks.

Meanwhile, a 12-year-old maid was raped by a rickshaw driver and his friend in the Sanda area. The driver, Bilal, had to take her home but he took her to the flat of a friend.