Police Detain Individual After Marriage Between 5-Year-Old Girl and 13-Year-Old Boy in Sheikhupura
Police are actively pursuing further suspects involved in a shocking case of child marriage after a five-year-old girl was wedded to a 13-year-old boy in Sheikhupura’s Kot Nazir area. While one suspect has been apprehended in a raid, additional operations are underway to apprehend others implicated in the incident.
In Punjab, it is strictly prohibited to marry below the age of 16, yet child marriages remain prevalent in the region. An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of the Sadar Muredke police station has filed a case under the Child Marriage Act.
The First Information Report (FIR) outlines that the children were coerced into marriage, with the suspects fleeing upon the arrival of law enforcement. The grandfather of the girl, identified as Yousaf, confessed to forcibly marrying off his grandchild along with his son, Muzammil Abbas. Other individuals involved in the marriage include the father of the underage girl, Imran, her grandfather Amjad, Bashir, Akram Suleman alias Chana, and a suspect named Arshad who arranged the ceremony. The nikah was conducted by a suspect identified as Umar Hayat.
The suspects have been charged under ‘The Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Act 2015’ for forcefully marrying underage children.
In 2015, Punjab legislated to maintain the legal marriage age at 16 years, while enhancing penalties for violations of the law under the Punjab Marriage Restraint Act 2015.
Moreover, the Punjab government has drafted the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2024, aiming to prohibit marriages under the age of 18. According to the proposed bill, those involved in such marriages or arrangements will face imprisonment ranging from two to three years and fines ranging from one to two lakh rupees. Parents or guardians facilitating such marriages will also face imprisonment and fines.
