A 70-year-old man has been detained by authorities for marrying a 13-year-old girl in Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Monday.
As reported by ARY news, the girl, aged 13, was married off to the elderly man by her father. Upon receiving this information, the police took immediate action, arresting both the groom and the girl’s father.
Additionally, the cleric who officiated the marriage and the witnesses present were also taken into custody. Meanwhile, the young girl was taken to the hospital for a medical examination.
This act of child marriage blatantly violates the basic rights enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan, which mandates the state to protect all citizens, especially women and children.
Currently, Pakistan’s legislation, the outdated Marriage Restraint Act of 1929, sets the minimum marriage age at 16 for girls and 18 for boys.
Attempts by lawmakers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to raise the minimum marriage age to 18 have faced significant challenges, largely due to concerns about resistance from conservative elements.
