Elderly Man Arrested for Underage Marriage in Swat

An alarming incident has surfaced in the Swat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where an elderly man was caught in the act of marrying a young girl below the legal age. The shocking revelation came to light when a member of JUI-F shared details on social media, accompanied by a video in which the 13-year-old victim recounted the distressing events in Pashto. The community was outraged upon discovering that a 70-year-old man was set to become the girl's husband, leading to widespread dissemination of the news online.

In response to the public outcry, law enforcement swiftly intervened and apprehended not only the elderly groom but also the marriage officiant and witnesses complicit in the illicit union. Reports indicated that the groom, identified as Hanifa, had offered a significant sum of money to the girl's family in exchange for the marriage arrangement. Authorities have taken the groom, the girl's father, and other suspects into custody, launching a comprehensive investigation into the matter to ensure justice is served.

The exposure of this reprehensible act of underage marriage in Swat district underscores the importance of safeguarding the rights and well-being of minors. It serves as a stark reminder of the prevalence of such harmful practices in certain communities and the necessity for stringent enforcement of laws protecting vulnerable individuals. By holding perpetrators accountable and raising awareness about the detrimental effects of child marriage, we can strive towards creating a safer and more equitable society for all.