The Court of First Judicial Magistrate Umerkot, in an extraordinary move, directed higher authorities of the district to provide shelter to a 9th grader and provide her with all other basic amenities.
As per the details of the order passed by Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate-I Umerkot Muneer Ahmed Jagsi, Aisha, a 15-year-old girl, had been induced by a middle-aged man, Kheemon Bheel, for marriage, following which she had eloped from her house. But Kheemon deceived her and refused to marry her, leaving her abandoned and recovered by local police.
According to the details provided by Sub-Inspector of Women and Children Police Station Umerkot, Din Muhammad, he had submitted an application to the Sessions Judge Umerkot, following which the matter was referred to the court of First Judicial Magistrate-I Umerkot for recording the statement of 15-year-old Aisha in accordance with Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1908. In her statement, she requested the court for providing her with shelter and other basic necessities as her parents were annoyed with her and never wanted to take her back after she eloped from her house to marry Kheemon Bheel, who discarded her and went into hiding.
The court, after recording her statement and evaluating the circumstances that surfaced in the wake of the incident, held that the teenager should be given required facilities, shelter, and protection in accordance with the law. The court determined that Aisha, being about 15 years old, is a "child in need of special protection measures" as defined under Section 2(g) of the Sindh Child Protection Authority Act, 2011.
Furthermore, the circumstances indicated that the matter involved an attempt to solemnize a child marriage, bringing it under the scope of the Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2013. "Regrettably, the Child Protection Officer, District Umer Kot, and District Monitoring Committee have miserably failed to perform their duties in accordance with the law," the order stated.
Citing Rule 42 and 43 of the Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Rules, 2016, the court ordered the Deputy Commissioner Umerkot to act in the capacity of the Chairman of the District Monitoring Committee and have active supervision of the Safe House at Umerkot. It had also directed the SSP Umerkot to provide necessary protection to the 15-year-old girl and bound the District Health Officer to provide required medical assistance to the girl. It also sought an implementation report from the concerned authorities by November 10th, 2025.