Underage girls move court against forced marriage

District court orders police to provide protection to the complainants


Our Correspondent May 05, 2024

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HYDERABAD:

A court in Thatta district on Saturday directed the police to provide protection to two minor girls who were given in marriage to two adults of a family whose woman has recently eloped with the girl's uncle.

The minor girls, Rozina Mirjat and Gulnaz Mirjat also posted a video on social media on Saturday, alleging that Eidu Mirjat and his sons tried to kidnap them.

According to the girls and their parents, Eidu's daughter Marvi married their uncle Mumtaz Mirjat without her family's consent and the couple escaped from their village Baghar Mori after tying the marital knot.

They alleged that four local elders convened a ‘jirga’ and ordered that two grand-daughters of Laung Mirjat should be given in marriage to sons of Eidu Mirjat.

The school going students and their parents opposed the decision and on Saturday they reached the district court to seek protection.

The court also ordered the police to take action against the people imposing forced marriage on the girls under Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2013.

Talking to the media outside the court, Rozina and Gulnaz said, they want to complete their education but the forced marriage would bring a lot of problems in their lives. “Neither we, nor our parents have given consent to the forced marriage decision of the jirga,” they added.

The girls and their parents also told court that they had lodged a complaint with the police before knocking the court door but the police did not take any action against Eidu and his sons. They also alleged that Eidu's sons are ruffians.

Published in The Express Tribune May 5th, 2024

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