Police in Pakistan's northwestern Swat district have arrested five men for their involvement in the marriage of a 6-year-old girl.
Police officer Daud Khan told RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal on October 22 that two families in the remote village of Bazkhela were involved in marrying the girl to a 16-year-old boy.
He said police raided the village and arrested five men, including the bridegroom, his father, the cleric who conducted the ceremony, and two men who witnessed the marriage.
Khan said police are still looking for the girl's father, who fled.
The girl has been handed over to village elders.
Police are investigating the case further before sending it to a local court.
Pakistani law requires a bride to be at least 16 years old, but child marriages are still common in the rural areas.
Police officer Daud Khan told RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal on October 22 that two families in the remote village of Bazkhela were involved in marrying the girl to a 16-year-old boy.
He said police raided the village and arrested five men, including the bridegroom, his father, the cleric who conducted the ceremony, and two men who witnessed the marriage.
Khan said police are still looking for the girl's father, who fled.
The girl has been handed over to village elders.
Police are investigating the case further before sending it to a local court.
Pakistani law requires a bride to be at least 16 years old, but child marriages are still common in the rural areas.
