Underage girl forced into marriage rescued in Sindh

E-Paper | May 25, 2026

Three men were arrested in Sindh's Tando Muhammad Khan district on Friday for allegedly marrying off an 11-year-old girl to settle a family dispute after a jirga ruling.

Those arrested include the girl's father, Rawat Lashari, her husband, Abdul Karim Lashari and the cleric who solemnised the wedding in a village near Matli town of Badin district.

Acting on a tip-off, Dando police raided the village Thursday night where the wedding was underway and rescued the girl.

"The village jirga, in an attempt to settle a dispute within the family, ordered the 11-year-old girl to be married off to the 56-year-old Abdul Karim," said Dando Station House Officer (SHO) Mir Hassan Rajo.

Investigation conducted by the local police revealed that Abdul Karim's wife had reportedly "eloped" with the girl's maternal uncle a few months ago.

The issue was brought to the jirga, which then penalised Rawat and ordered him to marry his daughter to Abdul Karim.

A First Information Report was registered on behalf of the state. The accused were charged under Section 310 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) as well as sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Sindh Child Marriages Restraint Act, 2013.

The accused were presented in front of a civil judge who placed them in judicial custody for 14 days and directed the police to produce the minor in the court on Saturday.

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PAYAL Gandhi

Mar 25, 2017 01:14am

Shameful. These sick people will pay for their deeds. Good the govt saved her. But what after that. Provision should be made for her education and stay. Not with the monster father or to be husband. And what court can decide this. This jigra should be banned.

Recommend 0

SFK

Mar 25, 2017 01:42am

Where is this nation's humanity? It pains me to see a nation that claims itself to be Muslim, acting like Arabs in the "Age of Ignorance" (zamana e jahiliyat). The current state of the majority of our country is a disgrace to humanity, and a disgrace to Islam. I wonder when we will educate our masses and pull this country out of the utter chaos that it is today.

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Kami

Mar 25, 2017 01:51am

The jirga has to be punished too.

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Adnan Liaqat

Mar 25, 2017 02:05am

Had the "Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2013" been fully enforced, it could have not been happened. The punishment provided in the Act ( i.e Three Years ) should be made exemplary through amendment. This is against the nature as well as social taboos. The Government should make strict rules under the Act to keep an eye on such hooligans. The Jirga which proposes such settlements should be banned forever.

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Hassan (Karachi)

Mar 25, 2017 02:25am

"11-year-old girl to be married off to the 56-year-old" Sick. Our Society is sick.

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M. Emad

Mar 25, 2017 03:37am

Hundreds of underage Pakistani and Indian girls forced into marriage to old Arab Sheikhs.

Recommend 0

Mar 25, 2017 04:43am

The best way to check such rotten practice is to punish the guilty people quickly, this will send an appropriate message that Pakistan does not allow such a practice any more.

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Shafiq Shah

Mar 25, 2017 06:18am

What is wrong with these Jirga people. These ignorant Jirga should also be penalised and thrown in JAIL. Well done Dando police. Thank you.

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JUSTICE

Mar 25, 2017 06:45am

The people of Pakistan are fed up two different type of justice system, Its time for the Government of Pakistan ends "Jirga system" people in Jirga are not qualified, they are still living in the stone age to following laws of the jungles, only appointed judges can make the wise decisions.

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rashid nasim

Mar 25, 2017 07:05am

My Dear SHO: Please make sure this little girl get justice. God will take care of you.

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saudagar

Mar 25, 2017 10:22am

" she will get three meals a day there atleast " - reply from mother of a girl who was married to arab ,being asked why they did so ?

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D.K. PAMNANI - INDIA

Mar 25, 2017 10:38am

Thanks the authorities in Pakistan who saved her. Culprits be punished. The girl if of the age of her daughter/grand daughter. Shame.

Recommend 0

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