August 10, 2007	Friday	Rajab 25, 1428

SANGHAR, Aug 9: A teenaged girl who was given in marriage by her father to a man twice her age in exchange for a buffalo seeks divorce six months after the marriage due to what she described as cruelty of her husband and in-laws.

Ms Rubina, 16, of Tri Mori village near Tando Adam told journalists on Thursday that soon after her marriage her husband, Mir Mataro Magsi, 40, of Shah Baig Mari village started beating her on flimsy excuses. Her in-laws also took it as a right to thrash her from time to time, she said.

She said that a few days ago, she decided to come back to her parents as she could no more bear the torture.

On Wednesday, her husband along with his friends attacked her and her parents and tried to kidnap her when they were going to court to file for divorce but she was saved by people of the area, she said.

The girl’s father, Khan Mohammad Magsi, said that he was ready to return the buffalo, which he had received in exchange for her daughter as he could not see her daughter’s pain.

Tando Adam TPO Amir Abbas Shah said that he had called both the parties to his office and police were investigating the girl’s complaint.