JACOBABAD, June 30: A nine-year-old girl, married off to a 70-year-old man to settle a debt in the Bhagat village of Thul area, early this week, has been rescued by police.

The girl, Zahida, will be sent to a care centre after a medical examination. Her father is in police custody while her husband of a few days, Abdul Sattar Pahore, is reported to be absconding. According to police, Maulvi Nek Mohammad, who had solemnised the marriage, is being interrogated.

It is learnt that the girl’s father, Jan Mohammad Pahore, had taken a loan of Rs80,000 from Abdul Sattar’s younger brother Bakhshan Khan Pahore. When the loan was not paid, Bakhshan Khan forced Jan Mohammad to give his daughter in marriage to Abdul Sattar. The marriage took place on June 27.

Police produced the girl before DPO Munir Ahmed who ordered the medical examination of the girl. However, no FIR had been lodged till Friday evening.