Larkana Police Intervene, Save Girl From Child Marriage

Larkana police intervened in a wedding ceremony, rescuing a 13-year-old girl from child marriage on Sunday. Acting upon reports that the girl’s family was forced to marry her off due to extreme poverty, Larkana district police chief authorized a discretionary grant of Rs50,000 to offer temporary support to the family.

Following reports of the marriage of 13-year-old Aliya, daughter of Khalid Hussain, Larkana district police chief SSP Syed Abdul Rahim Shirazi directed DSP Headquarters Sarfraz Ahmed, SHO Abdul Malik Bhutto, and SHO Women Police Station to raid Khalid Hussain’s house and halt the wedding, which violated the Sindh Child Marriage Act.

Read more: Child marriage campaign: Indian police detains 1800 males.

Police verified Aliya’s age using her B-Form, confirming her official age. The parents explained their decision, citing economic hardship. In response, SSP Larkana provided financial assistance of Rs50,000 to the girl’s parents. The Sindh Child Marriage Act, enacted in 2013, prohibits marriages involving children under eighteen, imposing penalties on male contracting parties, individuals officiating the marriage, as well as the respective parent or guardian.

Despite being the first province to pass the ‘Sindh Marriage Restraint Act 2013’ with the goal of preventing child marriages, implementation remains a significant challenge in Sindh. Child rights expert Sarah Zaman highlighted operational gaps and challenges in the law’s implementation, emphasizing the need to address socio-political issues alongside poverty when proposing amendments.

In March 2023, the Federal Shariat Court in Islamabad dismissed a petition challenging the Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act 2013, which sets the minimum marriage age at 18 for both girls and boys in the province. The petitioner argued that the Act was un-Islamic and violated Islamic injunctions, but the full bench rejected these claims.