Larkana Police Stop Attempted Forced Child Marriage of Two Teenagers
Police in Larkana, Pakistan, successfully intervened on Friday to prevent a forced child marriage involving a 13-year-old girl and her 16-year-old cousin in Khero Dero village. The Women and Child Protection Cell (WCPC), acting on a tip-off from a local trust, arrived at the scene, prompting the groom's family to flee. The girl and her parents were subsequently brought to a police station, where the parents received counselling and provided a written surety to not marry their daughter before she turns 18.
Larkana police, including the Women and Child Protection Cell (WCPC), stopped a forced child marriage in Khero Dero village on Friday. The intervention prevented a 13-year-old girl from being married to her 16-year-old cousin.
The police operation was initiated after Naween Mangi, who manages the Ali Hasan Mangi Memorial Trust in Upper Sindh, alerted authorities. Mangi had initially attempted to intervene through community channels, but when these efforts were unsuccessful, she engaged the district police. Officials from the WCPC, the Women Police Station Larkana, and the Lashari Police Station responded to the alert.
Upon the arrival of the police, the groom and his family reportedly fled the scene. The 13-year-old girl and her parents were then taken to the Women Police Station Larkana for her safe custody. Police officials counselled the parents regarding the legal age of marriage and obtained a written surety, ensuring they would not marry their daughter until she reaches 18 years of age.
The girl expressed her desire to stay with her parents and was subsequently released into their care. Naween Mangi praised the police's proactive and helpful response. While police have remained in contact with the family, Mangi's organization is closely monitoring the girl and her family, as concerns remain about the deep-rooted custom of underage marriage in society.
According to Mangi, the groom’s family has publicly claimed that the teenagers are married and that the girl is missing. However, the girl's parents have issued a video statement confirming she is at home and not missing. (Source: Dawn Pakistan)
