Police foil underage marriage in Naushahro Feroze, arrest Nikahkhwan, others

NAUSHAHRO FEROZE: Police raided a house in Kore-Ja-Bhan village in Naushahro Feroze district and detained several persons after being reported about underage marriage of a gir in the village.

Police detained scores of persons attending the ceremonty including Nikahkhwan and relatives of the bride.

The would-be-groom, Abdul Ghafoor Solangi, slipped from the scene, police is conducting raids for his arrest, officials said.

“The nikah of the underage girl was being solemnized by force when the police conducted raid,” police said.

Earlier, in May Dadu police foiled an underage marriage and arrested the bridegroom and his father in a raid and registered a case against them.

According to police, the department was reported about the marriage of an underage 12-year girl in jurisdiction of the A-Section police station in Dadu.

“A police party led by SHO Liaquat Ali Sarki conducted raid and taken the underage bride in police custody,” officials said.

Police officials also detained bridegroom Raja Panhwar and his father Niaz Panhwar.

A case was registered under the Child Marriage Act against the bridegroom, Nikahkhwan and parents of bride and the groom, police said.

Despite underage marriage has been prohibited under the law, child marriages are common in several parts of Pakistan, which has been among the countries having highest number of girls married before the age of 18, according to a news report.