Thatta Court Orders Protection for Minor Girls in Forced Marriage Case

News Desk

Hyderabad: Influential figures in Thatta purportedly imposed a punishment on Videre by offering two daughters as recompense for her uncle’s chosen marriage.

Two girls, residents of Amri Stop, accompanied by their mother, appeared before the Sessions Court on Saturday last week. The court directed protection for the girls and enforcement of the Child Marriage Act, demanding a subsequent report.

During their testimony, the girls affirmed their commitment to their studies and distanced themselves from the situation.

Meanwhile, the police reported that Vadira and her associates had absconded following the court’s ruling.

It should be noted that Mumtaz Mirjat, the girls’ uncle, had arranged a marriage of his preference, prompting influential individuals to dictate the marriage of the two girls to their brothers.

A court in Thatta district on Saturday directed the police to provide protection to two minor girls who were married off to two adults from a family whose woman had recently eloped with the girls’ 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 attempted 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 fled from their village Baghar Mori after getting married.

They claimed that four local elders convened a ‘jirga’ and ordered that two granddaughters of Laung Mirjat should be married to sons of Eidu Mirjat.

The school-going students and their parents opposed the decision and sought protection from the district court on Saturday.

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

Speaking to the media outside the court, Rozina and Gulnaz said they want to continue their education but forced marriage would bring many problems into their lives. “Neither we nor our parents have consented to the forced marriage decision of the jirga,” they added.

The girls and their parents also informed the court that they had filed a complaint with the police before approaching the court, but the police did not take any action against Eidu and his sons. They also alleged that Eidu’s sons are troublemakers. Additional input from Express Tribune.