Four held for marrying children to settle dispute

Police prevent ‘sale of girl child in another incident

MULTAN: District police on Thursday raided two punchayats and arrested eight people for arranging marriage of a seven-year-old boy with a five-year-old girl and selling a child in marriage, respectively, to settle disputes in Karoor Lali and Alipur areas.

In Karoor Lali, police were tipped off about a punchayat arranged to settle a dispute between Allah Ditta and Manzoor Hussain, residents of Shiekhanwala village in Layyah. Hussain’s son and Ditta’s daughter had eloped a few days ago with the intention of getting married. The punchayat headed by Hazoor Bakhsh, Hussain’s brother, had decided to marry Hussain’s five-year-old daughter to Ditta’s seven-year-old son to settle the dispute.

Bakhsh, Ditta and Hussain, children’s fathers and a cleric called to solemnise the marriage, Muhammad Abdullah, were taken into custody.

They would be presented before the court on Saturday (tomorrow).

The children were given into the protection of the Child Protection Bureau. Police said families could get the children’s custody if they submitted in writing that no such incident would happen in future.

In another incident, Saddar police raided a punchayat arranged to settle a sexual assault allegation and arrested 30 people. Those arrested included Abdul Majid who had requested the punchayat to settle scores with a neighbor, Muhammad Amjad, accused of sexually assaulting his daughter. The Saddar SHO said 26 of them were released after initial inquiry.

Saddar police also registered a sexual assault case against Amjad and were conducting raids for his arrest.