Underage marriage: Maulvi, girl’s father sent behind bars | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Underage marriage: Maulvi, girl’s father sent behind bars

LARKANA, Sept 16: Judicial magistrate of Warah Saleem Ahmed Butt on Wednesday remanded Maulvi Shaman Buriro for three days in police custody and sent Punhal Chandio behind bars for marrying his underage daughter Koonj to a 60-year-old man a day ago.

The court allowed Koonj to go with her mother Saran.

Police moved into action after receiving reports a minor girl had been married to 60-year-old Ali Mohammad Chandio in Gul Buriro village and took the girl in protective custody after arresting the maulvi who solemnised nikkah and the girl’s father under the Women Protection Act.

The girl’s father who was handicapped said he took the step due to extreme poverty and sold her daughter for Rs35,000.

Ali Mohammed Chandio, the bridegroom, has left the village for unknown destination in the wake of police action and orders of Deputy Inspector General Sanaullah Abbasi to take strict action against the characters involved in the unlawful act.

FORCED LEAVE: Three post office staffers, including a deputy post master of General Post Office Larkana, were sent on forced leave on Wednesday because they had insulted TV channels’ cameramen when they were shooting protest against irregularities in distribution of money under the Benazir Income Support Programme.

Two postmen Sudheer Abro and Ghulam Mustfa Dahar were sent on forced leave while assistant superintendent of post Sannaullah Abro was asked to initiate inquiry into manhandling of cameramen Ali Nawaz Mangi, Tarique Morio and Safeez Mangi, said Divisional Superintendent of Post Office Majid Burfat.
Source: Dawn
Date:9/17/2009