SAHIWAL: Shergarh police foiled an attempt to conduct a child marriage in Choti Bambian village of Waan town, Okara district, in the early hours of Monday.

Police took into custody the would-be bride and groom -- 10-year-old Sana and 12-year-old Safdar — as well as their parents and brought them to the police station.

The parents are said to have assured police through a surety bond and affidavit that the children would be married at 18 years of age, and called off the wedding.

Shergarh Station House Officer (SHO) Farrukh Shahzad had received information on Sunday night that a child marriage was going to be held in Choti Bambian village. Taking the district police chief on board, the SHO verified the information, which was found correct.

Shergarh police immediately dispatched a mobile team and traced the location of the marriage.

Naseem Abbas Shah, chairman of Union Council 63 Shergarh, helped police track down the family. Shah warned parents of both the children they would be arrested if they did not stop the marriage.

Safdar’s father Noor Ahmed confirmed to police he was marrying off his son with the daughter of his brother-in-law, Ali Muhammad. The parents also confirmed that both the boy and girl were underage.

They later submitted an affidavit and surety bond to Chairman Shah as a witness that the children would be married when they hit 18 years of age.

The police reportedly released all family members after taking surety. No case was registered against anyone.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2018