DADU, April 6: A judge here on Tuesday directed the SHO of the Dadu town police station to conduct an inquiry into the sale of a seven-year-old girl to a 35-year-old man for marriage. A woman, Irshad Panhwar, resident of Gharibabad, Dadu, appeared in the court along with her daughter Akhtiar, 7, on Tuesday.

Ms Panhwar submitted a written statement, complaining that a few days ago, her husband, Hassan Panhwar, had sold Akhtiar for Rs18,000 to Ali Hassan, a resident of Mazdoorabad Mohalla in Dadu for marriage but the girl managed to escape two days ago.

She informed the court that Ali Hassan, with the help of three other persons, had barged into her house and attempted to kidnap Akhtiar, who was saved only after she had raised hue and cry.

She said that the very act of selling an underaged girl for marriage was unlawful besides being against religious norms. Judicial Magistrate Sikandar Amir Pahore directed the SHO of the Dadu town police station to conduct an inquiry into the matter and submit a report.