Saved in time: Police save an eight-year-old from marrying

SUKKUR:

Shadi Mirbahar and his 22-year-old would-be son-in-law were arrested by the Sukkur police for arranging the marriage of eight-year-old Ashraf Khatoon in the Kehri village in Salehpat.

According to sources, the police raided Shadi Mirbahar’s house on a tip-off and arrested him and 22-year-old Yousuf Mirbahar. They also took the eight-year-old and her mother into custody.

Yousuf was forcing Shadi to hurry up and formalise the nikah so that he could take his bride home when the police found out and interrupted the deal. The would-be son-in-law claimed that six months ago he had paid Rs50,000 and signed the nikkahnama with the girl.

He added that he had promised Shadi to giver another Rs50,000 on the rukhsati. The girl’s father said that he had taken the money from Yousuf but the nikah had not been made official. He added that he had told Yousuf that he would not send his daughter anywhere till she was older.  Yousuf said that his father-in-law was a greedy man and wanted to marry his daughter off to another man for more money. Rohri DSP Abdul Malik Bhutto told The Express Tribune that the men and girl would be presented before a judge on Monday (today).

Published in The Express Tribune, October 10^th, 2011.