Father Arrested in Pakistan for Allegedly Selling Daughter, 3, to 60-Year-Old Man
The father was detained in Chaman for an alleged transaction involving his daughter and a man named Salah Uddin, sparking outrage and an investigation into a tradition known as 'walwar.'
Authorities in Pakistan have arrested a father in connection with the alleged sale of his three-year-old daughter to a 60-year-old man for approximately £7,000. The incident occurred in Chaman, a border city in the Balochistan province.
The father, identified as Abdul Baqi, reportedly arranged the marriage for 2.5 million Pakistani rupees (£6,802) to a man known locally as Salah Uddin. This practice is reportedly tied to 'walwar,' a tradition where a groom's family provides money to the bride's family in exchange for marriage.
News of the alleged union gained traction online, prompting an investigation by local authorities. While the agreement was documented, police found that no money had yet been exchanged. The Middle Eastern news agency The Media Line reported that the marriage would have been finalized upon payment.
Salah Uddin has reportedly disappeared and is currently being sought by police, while Baqi has been arrested. The investigation into this child marriage has become entangled with the recent killing of the young girl's older sister, Shukriya Bibi.
Shukriya Bibi, who was Salah Uddin's daughter-in-law, was killed approximately two weeks prior in Kuchlak, near Quetta. Police have arrested her husband on suspicion of her murder and are examining whether a recent family dispute is connected to her death.
Balochistan prohibits child marriage, with a law enacted in 2025 making it illegal for individuals under 18 to marry adults. Convicted offenders can face up to three years in prison and a fine of up to 200,000 Pakistani rupees (£540).
Despite a general decline, child marriage remains a significant issue in Pakistan. Data from 2018 indicated that nearly one in 25 girls under 15 were married. UNICEF reports suggest that over one-fifth of girls under 18 are married in Balochistan, with the rate higher in lower-income households, where 34% of women are married.
In the past, some religious leaders in Pakistan have opposed legislation aimed at banning child marriage, with the Council of Islamic Ideology previously stating that such laws are not in line with Islamic injunctions.