Swat parents sell 13-year-old girl into marriage to elderly man for Rs1 million

In a shocking case of child marriage, the parents bartered their underage daughter in marriage to a 70-year-old man in Swat, it emerged on Monday.

According to sources, the girl's parents allegedly sold their daughter for money to the man, who is five times her age. 

The marriage took place in Nagoha area of Brikot tehsil and the elderly man already has eight children and grandchildren.

The suspect reportedly paid a sum of Rs1 million to the girl's family. 

The teenager, who is a sixth-grade student, came to know about her marriage when she was at school, sources said.

Despite the girl's absence, the registrar issued a marriage certificate signed by witnesses.

The practice of child marriage violates the fundamental rights enshrined in Constitution of Pakistan, which mandates the state to safeguard all citizens, particularly women and children.

Under Pakistan's current law, the outdated Marriage Restraint Act of 1929, sets the minimum age for marriage at 16 for girls and 18 for boys.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) lawmakers have repeatedly attempted to raise the minimum marriage age to 18, but their efforts have been stalled due to fear of resistance from conservative groups.