UMERKOT: Twenty-three people, including 35-year-old groom and six-year-old bride, were arrested in a raid on a wedding party in Umerkot on Wednesday.

The raid was carried out on a directive of Umerkot district and sessions judge Syed Nasiruddin Shah after a resident of Mangrio Mohalla, Abdul Karim, approached the court to inform it that the ceremony for the six-year-old girl, Amina Mangrio, with the 35-year-old camel trader hailing from Rahimyar Khan, Mohammed Rafique, was in progress. He also told the court that Mr Rafique had paid Rs1.5 million to her parents as the ‘price’ for the girl.

The court issued an order for the raid and arrest of all people attending the ceremony.

DSP Ali Raza Leghari along with a police party conducted the raid and found that the Nikah had already been solemnised and the guests were leaving the girl’s house. The police arrested the groom and 22 other people who attended the ceremony.

They were produced in the court, which ordered registration of a case against them.

Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2015