Lahore High Court takes notice of forced marriage of a young girl

Lahore: Lahore High Court, Lahore, takes notice of the news published in a section of press regarding rape and forced marriage of a young girl with an aged man of Muzaffargarh and District & Sessions Judge, Muzaffargarh has been directed to probe into the matter and submit a detailed report regarding steps taken by the local police along with his own comments.

According to details, parents of Shaista wanted to marry her with an old man, Ghulam Akbar for some financial incentives. On the marriage day Shaista refused the wedlock because of old age of her proposed husband but her family sent her with Ghulam Akbar forcefully and he raped her for many days. After some days, Ghulam Akbar fractured her arm and got thumb impression on the Nikkah documents. Later on, Mariyam Bibi, mother of ill fated girl, approached court at D.G.Khan and recovered her through police. After recording statement, court sent her to Darul Aman Muzaffargarh but after three days her parents took her at their home. She also lodged dissolution of marriage suit before family court at Kot Addu. Parents once again handed over her to Ghulam Akbar in lieu of some monetary gains. Shaista’s grandfather again approached court and recovered her. Court sent her Darul Aaman D.G.Khan but her parents again signed an affidavit with Ghulam Akbar and sent her with him.

Shaista alleged that during her stay at Darun Aman Muzaffargarh and D.G. Khan, staff had also criminally assaulted her.

LHC Complaint Cell took serious notice of the news and directed the concerned D&SJ to look into the matter and submit report within a week positively.