Illegal union: Court orders arrest of groom, cleric for underage marriage

Judge orders cancellation of oath commissioner’s licence, action against lawyer.

HYDERABAD: A groom and cleric were arrested in the case of an underage marriage on court order on Friday.

The second additional district and sessions judge, Aijaz Khaskheli, also ordered the police to register an FIR  against oath commissioner and a lawyer as well. The judge was hearing the petition against Babar Ali who married 13-year-old A* earlier this month on May 2. The girl told the court that she was forced to give her thumb impression on the nikahnama. She also filed a plea for dissolution of her marriage which the court accepted and allowed her to go with her parents. During the proceedings, it emerged that Nikah Khwan, cleric Muhammad Dawood Khan, filed the nikahnama and oath commissioner Syed Anwar Shah attested it without the girl’s consent.

Shah even failed to identify her in the court room. Judge Khaskheli ordered Sindh home secretary to cancel the oath commissioner’s licence and also sought action against lawyer Qasim Siyal from the district bar association.

Judge also ordered the Cant police station to register an FIR against the four men and investigate the case.

Under the Child Marriage Restraint Act 1929, such crimes are punishable with a month in jail and a penalty of up to Rs1,000.

The girl, however, has also accused Babar of rape but has yet to register an FIR against him in this matter. The FIR on the court order has yet to be registered.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1^st, 2013.