SC dismisses suspect’s bail in underage girl marriage case
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The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed the bail of accused Syed Zafar Ali Shah in the case of marriage with an underage girl, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The court directed the trial court to decide the matter of the accused’s marriage with a 14-and-a-half-year-old girl as soon as possible.
“How can marriage with a 14-and-a-half-year-old girl be held with a boy?” Justice Qazi Faez Isa.
“According to the Pakistani laws, marrying a girl under the age of 16 is a crime,” lawyer for the accused said.
“You are admitting the crime of your client,” Justice Qazi Faez Isa said to him.
“A 14-and-a-half-year-old girl can be married under the Sharia laws,” lawyer for the accused said.
“If you have any objection to the enacted law, get it amended from the Parliament,” Justice Qazi Faez told the lawyer.
“What is the punishment for marrying a young girl?” Faez Isa questioned.
“Marrying a minor girl is punishable by imprisonment for life,” the lawyer told Faez Isa.
“Now tell me how can bail be granted in this case? According to the law, a young girl cannot be married,” Qazi Faez Isa stated.
“According to the medical report, the age of the girl is 17 years,” the lawyer told Faez Isa.
“B-Form is a pre-marital and certified document. Why should we accept the medical report instead of B-Form?” Justice Qazi Faez Isa pointed out.
A three-member SC bench, headed by Justice Qazi Faez Isa, heard the case
Reporter: Amanat Gishkori