POLICE IN PAKISTAN have stopped a marriage between a 10-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy from going ahead.
The BBC has reported that local village elders had ordered the marriage after her brother was accused of killing his wife.
This could be classed as a ‘vani’ marriage, where a female is made to marry someone else to settle a crime committed by a relative.
While these are illegal, they remain a fairly common occurrence in the country.
The marriage had been due to happen in the Rahim Yar Khan district of Punjab on Friday, but was stopped by a police raid.
It is understood that a number of elders have been arrested in connection with the incident.
Conflicting accounts are being given of the girl’s age, with Reuters saying that she is nine.
The girl’s brother is thought to have killed his wife after finding out that she had an affair.
Currently the parents of child brides are only subject to a month in prison and a fine of less than €20.
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