By: Areeba Saeed
Sheikhupura Police arrested a man and initiated inquiry into alleged child marriage case.
A 5-year-old girl was married to a 13-year-old boy in the Kot Nazir, a village on GT road in Sheikhupura. On Monday, police arrested the suspect during the raid.
Police said that one suspect involved in the case of child marriage was arrested, while other raids are to be conducted to arrest everyone involved in this case. It is important to note that it is illegal to get married before the age of 16 in Punjab. However, such cases are still much more prevalent in the province.
A police spokesperson addressed that the case was lodged on the behalf of an assistant sub-inspector, Muhammad Younis, from the Saddar Muredke police station under the Child Marriage Restraint Act 1971.
The FIR registered mentions that the children were forced into this marriage. It also stated that the suspect fled away as soon as police raided the event. In FIR, the Grandfather of the boy, Muhammad Yousaf, admitted that he, along with his son, Muzammil Abbas, forced their children into this early marriage.
The FIR also mentions the father of the 5-year-old girl, Imran, her Grandfather Amjad, Bashir, and Akram Suleman Alias Chana, who were part of this marriage. Another suspect named Arshad made all the arrangements for the marriage, while Umar Hayat commemorated the ceremony of Nikkah.
“The said suspects committed crime under ‘The Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Act 2015’ by forcibly marrying the underage children,” the FIR said.
According to this Child Marriage Act 2015, the legal age of marriage in Punjab is 16, and the violation of this act includes rigorous imprisonment for 2 to 3 years, while a fine between Rs100,000 to Rs200,000 shall be imposed. However, the legal age was changed to 18 in 2024 after the draft was prepared for the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act.
The case was heard by Justice Anwar-ul Haq Pannu in Lahore High Court.
