TAXILA: Police on Saturday foiled a bid to marry off a 13-year-old girl to a man 40 years older than her.

“The police had been tipped off about the girl’s marriage in the Pind Mehri village near Hassanabdal following which a raid was conducted,” Subdivisional Police Officer (SDPO) Haji Mohammad Shafeeq told newsmen.

He said Mohammad Arif, a native of Mardan, was marrying his daughter with Akhter Nawaz, 53.

He said the police took Arif and Nawaz into custody and registered a case against them.

He said the police were looking for the cleric who solemnised the marriage.

The SDPO said the cleric had escaped before the police raided the spot.

He said the case was registered under the Child Marriages Restraint Act 2013 against Arif and Nawaz on behalf of the state.

According to the Act, a child marriage includes any marriage where one of the contracting parties is less than 18 years of age.

Those found guilty of entering into, or facilitating, a child marriage can be sentenced to rigorous punishment for up to three years.

The SDPO said the child had been shifted to a Darul Aman in Attock and would be presented in a special court on Monday.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2018