MULTAN – Police have arrested a 45-year-old man for marrying an underage girl forcefully in Bahawalnagar city of Punjab.
The arrest came after the Punjab Women Protection Authority (PWPA) took notice of the marriage of the underage girl.
According to the Child Marriage Restraint Act 1929 Punjab amendment 2015; the minimum age of marriage for male is 18 years and 16 years for female.
Chairperson of PWPA, Hina Butt, made an emergency visit to Bahawalnagar to meet the girl and get a briefing from the police about the incident.
Butt stated that the minor girl had been forcibly married to the 45-year-old man. As soon as the incident was reported to the police helpline 15, the District Police Officer (DPO) rescued the girl and arrested the suspect.
The police have shifted the girl to a safe shelter home, and all legal requirements will be fulfilled. Financial and legal assistance will also be provided to the affected girl by the state.
