DERA GHAZI KHAN: The Shah Sadardin police arrested 15 people, including the bridegroom and the father of underage bride, on Thursday for an underage marriage under vani.

The bride-to-be was 12 years old whereas the groom, Abbas, was 45. The police said the girl’s hand was being traded to compensate the crime committed by her brother. The police arrested bridegroom Abbas, father of girl Abdul Ghafar, and the nikah registrar. According to the first information report, the marriage was being held on the decision of a local jury as Qasim, brother of underage bride, had eloped sister-in-law of Abbas.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2019