Probe into 'abduction, forced conversion' of minor girls demanded

Opposition leader questions enforcement of child marriage law, seeks action against those involved

KARACHI:

Nearly a decade after Sindh enacted legislation prohibiting child marriages, questions persist over its enforcement, with opposition leader Ali Khursheedi demanding an investigation into the alleged abduction, forced conversion and underage marriage of two girls.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Sindh Assembly opposition leader said legislation alone could not protect children unless backed by effective enforcement, urging the provincial government to establish the facts surrounding the cases of Bandia Kumari and Kalpana.

Khursheedi, who belongs to the MQM-Pakistan, pointed out that Bandia belonged to Balochistan but her alleged marriage took place in Sindh, making it incumbent upon the provincial government to investigate the circumstances. He questioned who had solemnised the marriage and verified her age.

Raising concerns over the second case, the MQM-Pakistan said Kalpana's school certificate indicated that she was 13 at the time of her marriage. He called for an investigation into the apparent discrepancy between her educational record and an affidavit declaring her an adult, arguing that an affidavit alone could not establish legal age.

Khursheedi questioned why affected families had to wait for PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to take notice before government machinery swung into action. The chief minister, ministers and police should fulfil their legal responsibilities without waiting for political instructions, he said.

Demanding protection for both girls, the MQM-Pakistan leader called for age verification through authentic records and legal action against those who arranged or facilitated underage marriages. Government officials found guilty of negligence or complicity should also face accountability, he added.

He maintained that religious conversion could not be used to circumvent laws protecting children, stressing that no influential individual should be exempt from investigation and accountability.