On Monday, police in Dadu intervened to halt an underage marriage ceremony involving a 13-year-old girl named Alisha Jamali in the village of Daduni Jamali.
Following a tip-off about the illegal event, local authorities, with support from female officers, conducted a raid and discovered the girl dressed as a bride.
Arrests & legal proceedings
The Dadu girl informed the police that her parents were forcing her into marriage with an older man. In response, the police arrested six individuals, including the groom, under the Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act. Investigations are ongoing.
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In a related development, the Lahore High Court issued a landmark ruling in May, imposing punitive measures on Nikahkhawans (marriage registrars) involved in officiating underage marriages. Justice Anwar-ul-Haq Pannu announced the judgment following a plea from Azmat Bibi.
The court reinforced its earlier directives aimed at preventing underage marriages, emphasizing the need for documentary evidence of the bride’s age and holding Nikahkhawans and witnesses accountable.
