CHAMAN: A 60-year-old man accused of marrying a young girl in Chaman has reportedly fled to Afghanistan, while police have arrested the girl’s father and the accused man’s brother as investigations into the case continue.
The case came to light after authorities began investigating the alleged marriage of a minor girl to the elderly man. Police have also linked the investigation to the September 7 killing of the girl’s teenage sister in Kuchlak.
According to police and the girl’s family, the teenage girl, identified as Shukria Bibi, had allegedly faced abuse at her marital home. Her husband, who is the son of the 60-year-old man accused in the child-marriage case, has already been arrested in connection with her death.
Family Alleges Pressure Over Marriage
The girl’s father has alleged that his teenage daughter had been subjected to pressure and that her in-laws had sought another marriage arrangement involving one of his younger daughters.
According to his account, an agreement was allegedly reached for his very young daughter to marry the 60-year-old man for Rs2.5 million. He further alleged that the elderly man later demanded an older daughter instead.
The father has linked the dispute to the subsequent death of his teenage daughter in Kuchlak. These allegations remain subject to investigation and judicial determination.
Police Investigating Possible Link to Teenager’s Death
Police are investigating whether the alleged child marriage and the killing of Shukria Bibi are connected.
Authorities have said that further investigation is underway to determine who else may have been involved in the two incidents. The government has also directed authorities to take legal action against anyone found responsible and to ensure protection for the minor girl.
The reported flight of the 60-year-old suspect to Afghanistan could add another dimension to efforts to locate and investigate those allegedly involved.
The case remains under investigation, and allegations against the suspects have not been established through a final court judgment.