January 14, 2025
By Rehan Piracha
LAHORE
A court in Jamshoro district has granted protection to a 16-year-old girl who sought refuge from her maternal uncle’s alleged attempt to force her into marriage with his 14-year-old son. The First Civil Judge of Jamshoro, Maira Nasir Mughal, has ruled that the girl, Maryam could live with her married elder sister in Karachi.
The case came to light when Maryam left her uncle’s residence in Khuda Ki Basti and appeared at the SITE Police Station in Kotri on January 10. In her court statement the following day, she revealed that circumstances had forced her to live with her maternal uncle, Muhammad Siddique Bhatti, after her mother’s death and father’s second marriage.
According to Maryam’s testimony, her uncle planned to marry her to his underage son, Salman Sonu. The situation echoed a pattern of trauma in the family – Maryam’s elder sister Shazia had previously fled their uncle’s home after turning 18, following what she described as persistent abuse and beatings.
Speaking to reporters at the police station, Maryam disclosed that her uncle had threatened to kill both her and her sister if she refused the marriage. Notably, she mentioned that even her intended groom, cousin Sonu, opposed the arrangement but was powerless against his father’s demands.
The court’s decision took into account Maryam’s expressed desire to continue her education. Her sister Shazia, now settled in Karachi, assured the court of her commitment to support Maryam’s education and welfare. The judge ordered the police to transfer custody to Shazia upon submission of a Rs500,000 surety bond.
‘Police & judiciary not sensitized against child marriages’
The case has highlighted ongoing challenges in implementing child marriage laws in Pakistan. Arfana Mallah, a human rights advocate, points out systemic issues in law enforcement and judicial responses to child marriages. She notes that while the Sindh Child Marriage Restriction Act exists, cultural norms often prevent cases from being reported, and authorities frequently treat such incidents as private family matters.
Pakistan faces significant challenges regarding child marriages, with UNICEF data ranking it sixth globally. The country is home to approximately 19 million child brides, and more than half of adolescent girls become pregnant before turning 18, posing severe health risks to both mothers and children.
Legislation on uniform age of 18 years pending
While Sindh province raised the minimum marriage age to 18 for both genders in 2014, efforts to implement similar legislation nationwide remain stalled. The case underscores the ongoing tension between legal frameworks and cultural practices in addressing child marriages in Pakistan.
In this particular case, no formal charges were filed against Muhammad Siddique Bhatti. According to SITE Police Station house officer Mazhar Ali Naich, this decision came after Maryam told the court that no marriage had been solemnized, contradicting her earlier statement to police about being forced into marriage. Subsequently, both Siddique Bhatti and his son were released.
The case adds to growing evidence that legislative measures alone may be insufficient to address child marriages in Pakistan. As Mallah suggests, there is a pressing need for comprehensive implementation mechanisms, clear guidelines for marriage dissolution, and reliable age verification procedures to effectively combat this persistent social issue.