Gambler puts Rs60k price tag on daughter

SHO Thull Police Station Ali Mohammad says reports about a father gambling off his daughter were wrong and baseless.

SUKKUR:

A gambler put a price on the priceless when he allegedly offered to sell his 18-year-old daughter to settle a bet.

The incident took place in Eid Gah Mohalla in Sukkur late Wednesday night, when Ghulam Sarwar Noonari allegedly lost Rs60, 000 to one Uzair Jakhrani.

Finding himself short of cash, Noonari quickly decided to marry off his daughter, Sabrina, to settle the debt. According to reports, Jakhrani accepted the offer and asked Noonari to arrange for a maulvi who could perform their nikkah.

The police, however, were swift in taking action after being informed of the incident by a neighbour. They raided Noonari’s house, took Sabrina into custody and arrested Noonari and Jakhrani.

Sabrina was presented before the court of the second civil judge Jacobabad on Thursday, where she recorded a statement. The court ordered the police to send the girl to a shelter home in Larkana for a couple of days, after which she could make a decision of her own free will.

While a case is yet to be registered, the police have refuted the story. SHO Thull Police Station Ali Mohammad Mahar told The Express Tribune that reports about a father gambling off his daughter were wrong and baseless.

However, he confirmed that the police raided Noonari’s house and took Sabrina into custody but she admitted she was engaged to Jakhrani for the last three years and wished to marry him.

According to Mahar, Sabrina’s uncle Hakim Ali was not happy with the marriage and was forcing her parents to end the engagement.

In her statement, Sabrina said that Jakhrani had come to her house Wednesday night to settle an appropriate date for marriage but her uncle informed the police, the SHO added.

Sabrina will be presented before the court after three days.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2012.