Court orders security for teenaged girl | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Court orders security for teenaged girl

SUKKUR, Oct 9: The court of first civil judge, Pano Aqil, on Thursday ordered the police to provide security to a teenaged girl who was sold into marriage for Rs50,000 and allowed her to go with her maternal uncle.

On the second day of Eidul Fitr, 18-year-old Najma Dasti, a resident of Ali Mahar village of the Khanpur Mahar area, Ghotki district, was forcibly sold into marriage to Taj Mohammad Dasti for Rs50,000 by her father, Siddiq Dasti. Her marriage was solemnized despite her protest.

Najma’s mother Zainab Khatoon lodged a complaint at the Khanpur Mahar police station. Subsequently, the police conducted a raid on the house of Taj Mohammad and recovered Najma but her husband managed to escape.

On Thursday morning, Najma was produced in the court of first civil judge, Pano Akil, Altaf Dayo. She testified that she was forcibly sold and married to Taj Mohammad Dasti by her father against her will and added that her husband tortured her. She said that she was afraid that he might kill her on the pretext of karo-kari and demanded protection.

The court ordered the area police to provide her with adequate protection and allowed her to go with her maternal uncle, Asghar Dasti, a resident of Jalal Indhar village near Pano Aqil.
Source: Dawn
Date:10/10/2008