16-year girl was being wedded to an elder man at Bhittai colony; girl’s father arrested

Girl Karishma however tells court ‘it was not wedding but engagement ceremony’

By Allah Bux Khushik

Dadu: The Women Police of Dadu has foiled an attempt of marriage of an under-age girl and saved 16-year girl Karishma who was being wedded to elder man here on late Friday night.

The women protection cell in-charge SHO Benazir Jamali told that after getting information that one Mehboob Ali Jatoi of Bhittai Colony was wedding her daughter 16-year daughter Karishma with Liaquat Otho, the police raided at Bhittai Colony and foiled the marriage attempt of an under-age girl and arrested girl’s father Mehboob Ali Jatoi.

Later, B-Section police lodged FIR against girl’s father Mehboob Ali and groom Liaquat Otho under Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act 2013.

On Saturday, police produced the girl Karishma in the court of first civil judge and Judicial Magistrate Johi at Dadu where the judge Irfan Ali Tagar recorded girl’s and her father’s statement.

Girl Karishma told the court that it was her engagement function and alleged that the fake case was registered owing to not paying money SHO of Woman Protection Cell.

Later, Judge ordered police to hand over girl Karishma to her mother and approved girl’s father’s 3-day police remand. The judge also ordered police to start fair inquiry and arrest groom Liaquat Otho within three days.

Child Protection Unit In-charge Syed Hidayat Ali Shah said that in first month of the year 2021, three early child marriages were foiled. He said that last year 8 child marriages were foiled in Dadu and 5 cases were lodged.

He said that poverty is the main cause of child marriage in society and added that the under-age girls cannot live healthy life neither they will give birth to healthy baby.

____________________

The post Dadu Women Police foil marriage of an under-age girl first appeared on Sindh Courier.