SAHIWAL: Ghaziabad police foile d the marriage of a 10-year-old girl with a 30-yearold man at Chak 160/9-L and arrested the bridegroom and the girl`s father.

Police rescued the minor girl and registered a case against 15 persons both from the girl and bridegroom`s families.

Liaqat Ali, a resident of Chak 160/9-L, had fixed the marriage of his eldest daughter, Sania, with Muhammad Asif, a local lawyer. The girl was not happy with the marriage and she escaped from home along with a boy 20 days before the marriage. The lawyer and his family forced Liaqat through a panchayat to marry his youngest child, 10-year-old daughter Iqra, in place of Sania with Asif.

On Friday, the suspect, Asif, brought a marriage procession and his nikah was arranged with the minor girl.

Ghaziabad SHO Umer Daraz got a tip-off of the minor girl`s marriage, police raided the spot and stopped the marriage ceremony.

Police arrested Liaqat, Asif, Ahmed Yar and bridegroom`s friend Sanwal.

The nikah khawan as well as the girl`s mother, Asia Bibi, succeeded in escaping from the scene.

Police registered a case against Asia, Nazir Ahmed, Sughran Bibi, Sabir Hussain, Sajid Hussain, Muhammad Shal(eel, Gulam Mustafa, Jamil, Yasin, Muhammad Jiwa, Naseem Akhter, and other unidentified members of the panchayat.

OMBUDSPERSON: The provincial ombudsperson has the authority to implement its decisions and the departments concerned, including police, revenue and administration, are bound to implement its orders.

This was stated by Punjab OmbudspersonNabeelaKhan while hearing complaints by women filed under the Punjab Enforcement of Women`s Property Rights Act 2021.