Clifton police made their first arrest under the Sindh Child marriage restraint bill 2013, passed last month to discourage child marriages.
Clifton police took the bride and the groom, who hail from Rahim Yar Khan, into custody as well. When the police reached the girl’s house, she was about to leave with the groom’s family. “All the preparations for the rukhsati had been made when we raided,” said Clifton SHO Ghazala Perveen.
On Wednesday morning, the police produced the couple before a court, where the groom was granted bail.
The family produced their nikah documents to the police that show that the girl is 18 years old. Allah Dad(The girl’s uncle) claimed, however, that she is 14 years old. The documents stated that the groom was born on January 1, 1968.
“We have yet to ascertain the actual facts and the age of the girl,” said the police. “The girl will be taken to the hospital to ascertain her age.” The police have refrained from registering the case until the girl’s age is confirmed
Marriage of people under 18 years old was made illegal in the bill passed by the Sindh Assembly on April 28. Those who violate the law can be imprisoned for up to three years in jail.
