BADIN: A man handed over his eight-year-old daughter to an elderly landlord as a mortgage after failing to pay him back Rs100,000 loan in Tando Bago town, 21 kilometres from here, on Sunday.

The shameful deal came to light when Ms Soomri Machhi approached Tando Bago police station and complained that her husband Achar Machhi had sold off her daughter Nazia, 8, to an old landlord Ali Murad Chandio in Pathan Water village near the town.

Police raided the village to recover the girl and returned her to her mother who accused his husband of having sold the girl for Rs100,000.

Tando Bago SHO Ali Anwer Leghari confirmed the girl had been sold and said further investigation was under way.

Achar Machhi told journalists that he had handed over his daughter as mortgage after having failed to pay back the loan he had taken from the landlord.

Police did not register an FIR nor made any arrest in the case.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2017