Awareness sessions will be conducted for Nikah Khawan, police and local councils’ officials to implement Child Marriage Law 2013
- Media reports of 45 child marriage cases in a village were fabricated – District administration and HR officials
By Allah Bux Khushik
Dadu, Sindh
Sindh government’s Human Rights Department held a consultative meeting with all the stakeholders at the office of Deputy Commissioner Dadu on Friday October 12, 2024 to ponder over the issue of 45 child marriages reportedly taken place in Khan Muhammad Mallah Village of Manchhar Lake.
In August last, the international and national print and as well electronic media had reported that 45 child marriage cases had taken place in Khan Muhammad Mallah village after flood of 2022. It was also reported the parents of the girls had sold them against some money and wedded the under-age girls.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, taking notice of the reports, had directed the Commissioner Hyderabad to submit a report after verifying the reports. The Commissioner assigned the task to the Deputy Commission of Dadu Mukhtiar Ali Abro who had constituted a Fact Finding Committee, consisting of two Assistant Commissioners and the focal person of Human Rights Department, which after carrying out investigation, had declared the reports as fabricated.
They had stated that due to lack of facilities, the residents of Khan Muhammd Mallah Village do not register marriages. According to the committee, the fishermen were lacking basic facilities, and many women died during the child birth. The fishermen do have boats to earn livelihood.
In view of such a situation prevailing at Khan Muhammad Mallah village, Sindh Human Rights Department Secretary Ms. Tahseen Fatima had convened the meeting with all stakeholders here on Friday evening.
Meeting was attend by Agha Fakharuddin, Director Human Rights Department, Iqbal Ahmed Detho, Chairman, Sindh Human Rights Commission, representatives of human rights department, Pakistan People’s Party MPA Pir Mujeeb ul Haque, Deputy Commissioner Dadu Mukthair Ali Abro, Director Fisheries Department, Assistant District Health Officer, Assistant Commissioner Dadu, different representatives of NGOs, fishermen of village Khan Muhmmad Mallah and others.
Human rights department representative Nazia Ali briefed that during the department’s fact-finding inquiry it was found that there is no school at Zero point village Khan Muhammad Mallah, and the residents have no facility of drinking water, no source of livelihood, no transport facilities, and no facility of getting National Identity Cards, while there was increase in child labor cases.
According to her, the village women were seen doing various types of works including handicrafts.
When this scribe raised question that child marriage cases were reported by international media, Agha Fakharuddin, Director Human Rights Department, replied that no child marriage cases was reported in the area and news was fabricated.
He said that all the officials have gathered as how to implement child marriage law of 2013.
Sindh Human Rights Commission Chairman Iqbal Ahmed Detho said that after monsoon season child marriage cases were reported in international and national media. “Following such report, human rights commission and human rights department directed the district administration to conduct inquiry,” he said however added that in Khan Muhammad Mallah village, child marriage issue cannot denied due to flood situation.
Iqbal Ahmed Detho said that there is need of creating awareness among Nikah Khawn, police and local government employees in Dadu district. He said that it is prime responsibility of Oil and Gas companies to assist margined communities.
Read: Parents unwilling to disclose child marriage cases – Shehla Raza
MPA Pir Mujeb ul Haque claimed that Pakistan People’s Party had raised voice for betterment of women and minority communities across the country.
Deputy Commissioner Dadu Mukthair Ali Abro said that parents of girls had not sold them but under-age marriage is a tradition in Khan Muhammad Mallah village. He said that it is better that development should be carried out but district administration cannot establish formal school, houses and dispensary for residents because they are living on embankment MNV drain. He told that the fishermen are not ready to shift to a safer place where the government can establish all basic facilities.
Human Rights department representative Nazia replied to deputy commissioner that Bangladesh has provided all facilities to the fishermen who are living at the lakes. She said that Sindh government had sufficient funds but why district administration denies to help them.
Then Deputy Commissioner assured them that non-formal school and health facilities in Khan Muhammad Mallah village will be provided.
During the conference representatives of NGOs told that child marriage cases increased in Dadu and 4 cases were reported in Khan Muhammad Mallah for poverty.
A fisherman resident of village Khan Muhammad Mallah told that there is no facility of education, drinking water, and health. “We are deprived of all the fundamental rights and facilities of life.”
He said that fisheries department officials are not ready to release seed of fishes since long time. Moreover, many fishermen had no facility of boats, while the number of boat-houses has also decreased due saline water of Manchhar Lake.
Fisheries Department Director said that some fishermen are illegally hunting and selling the fish seed but due to influence of political persons officials cannot take action against such fishermen.
Concluding the conference, the participants decided to hold an awareness session next week with Nikah Khawan and local government representatives, as child marriage cases in Dadu could decrease and law can be implemented on child rights. They also decided that women child protection cell Dadu building, which is under construction, should be notified by home minister of Sindh as child marriage and domestic violence cell and FIR should be transferred to women police as they can properly solve the matters of child marriage and domestic violence cases.
Read: Why Muslim girls are forced into early marriage
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