SAHIWAL: On the orders of the Lahore High Court (LHC), Yousafwala police have registered a case against six persons, including a minor girl, her alleged husband, the witnesses and a nikah registrar under the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Ordinance, 2026, on the complaint of the girl’s father.
According to police sources, Ayesha Bibi, daughter of a labourer, Iqbal, of Chak 57/5L, was allegedly abducted by the suspect, Majid, of the same village, along with his armed accomplices, on the night of October 9, 2025, when she went to the fields near her house.
On Iqbal’s complaint, Yousafwala police registered a case under Section 365 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). After two days, on Oct 11, Ayesha was allegedly married to one Shahid Iqbal, a resident of Chak 20GD, Okara district, through a forged marriage certificate.
It is alleged in the FIR that Majid is part of a gang involved in kidnapping the girl and selling her to a client.
The marriage certificate falsely mentioned Ayesha’s date of birth as Jan 1, 2008, showing she was 18 years old at the time of her marriage, the FIR says.
It adds that the police investigation officer, Sub Inspector (SI) Khalil Ahmad, had recovered the girl, but instead of handing her over to her father, facilitated her underage marriage and transfer to Shahid Iqbal.
Her statement under Section 164 of the CrPC was subsequently recorded in Okara district courts. During the investigation, her father submitted school records, birth certificate, and Nadra’s BForm, proving his daughter’s actual age was 13 years and three months, as her actual date of birth was March 20, 2013.
However, SI Khalil allegedly concealed these documents and omitted them from the supplementary report (Zimni), later declaring both Majid and Shahid innocent.
The girl’s father filed a complaint with the Punjab inspector general of police (IGP) office, but found no relief.
Later, through his counsel Advocate Tariq Bashir, Iqbal filed a writ petition (No. 38860H/2026) in the Lahore High Court, arguing that being a minor, Ayesha has no legal capacity to contract marriage. Punjab IGP was also made a party to the petition.
On July 9, 2026, the LHC summoned Sahiwal police officers, along with the IGP. The court also summoned Ayesha to confirm her age.
In the court, Ayesha stated she wanted to live with Shahid, but the court denied her request, ruling that she was legally incapable of marriage.
Announcing the verdict, the court ordered registration of a case against Ayesha, Shahid, nikah registrar, and witnesses under sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Ordinance.
Following the order, Yousafwala police registered a case against Shahid, Ayesha Bibi, witnesses Mammand Ali, Zahid Iqbal, Amanat Ali, all residents of Chak 20GD, and Nikah registrar of Ward No 1, Farid Nagar, Pakpattan, Mian Ghulam Rasool.
Investigation officer SI Khalil Ahmad was demoted to the rank of assistant sub inspector (ASI) on charges of corruption and manipulation of official documents.
Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2026.
