Six held over vani marriage

Published August 13, 2008

MIANWALI, Aug 12: Paikhel police have arrested six people in connection with the marriage of a 10-year-old girl to a 30-year-old man under the prevailing vani tradition.

The police have arrested Fateh Khan, father of the minor Fakhra Naureen; Shafiullah Khan, her groom; Sultan Ahmed Qadri, the man who solemnised her marriage; and witnesses Ghulam Muhammad, Azizullah and Rehmatullah. All six men have been sent to the jail after registration of a case against them under the Pakistan Penal Code.

District Police Officer Tasaddaq Hayat Malik took suo motu action after news reports highlighted the vani marriage a couple of days ago.

The handcuffed groom divorced his bride when police were taking him to the jail. —Correspondent