Child Marriage: 4 arrested for marrying off minor

Police officials arrested the parents of a girl, the groom and the nikkah khwan for trying to marry off underage girl.

FAISALABAD: Police officials arrested the parents of a girl, the groom and the nikkah khwan for trying to marry off the underage girl on Friday evening. According to police officials, Mohallah Raza Abad resident 65-year-old Jameel asked his Ammen’s permission to marry his daughter. Jameel’s wife died last month. Ameen initially turned down the proposal but when Jameel offered him money he agreed to marry his 13-year-old daughter, Shabana, to Jameel. A wedding guest informed the police. “They agreed to marry off the girl after Jameel offerred to pay them. Initially Ameen refused the match but eventually they arranged the wedding. She was only told a day before that she was being married and it was clear she was being forced,” said a wedding guest Khadim. Officials raided the house and arrested Jameel, the nikkah khwan and the parents of the girl. A case has been registered against the accused.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th, 2011.