CHAKWAL: The groom and an unknown person who solemnised the alleged marriage of a fifteen-year-old girl, including her father, were booked under the newly promulgated Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act 2026, police sources said on Friday.

The groom managed to return to Dubai, where he worked. This is the first-ever case registered under the new law passed by the Punjab Assembly.

However, the registration of the case has put the police in a fix, as in their statements, the father, groom, and the girl stated that only the functions of mehndi, baraat and walima were held, but nikkah and rukhsati were not.

The secretary of Union Council Maingan Mohammad Waheed told police that a few days ago, the marriage registrar of Dhakku village contacted him and told him that the parents of a 15-year-old girl wanted him to get the nikah of their daughter registered. “I strongly warned him and told him that the violation of the law would not be allowed in any case”, the secretary said.

He added that despite his warning, the parents of the girl married her, and the ceremonies of the marriage were held at Sanjog Marriage Hall in Chakwal city.

Sources told Dawn that the bride, who turned 15 on May 13, is a student of 9th grade who appeared in her last paper on May 7, while on the same night her mehndi function was held.

Her Nikkah to her first cousin, who is in his early 20s, was solemnised verbally, which was not registered. The marriage ceremonies were held at the Sanjog Marriage Hall on May 8 and 9, respectively.

Although the villagers told Dawn that the Rukhsati (departure) of the bride was also held on May 8, as the authorities sprang into action,

When contacted, District Police Officer Kashif Zulfiqar confirmed the arrest of the father of the bride. “Although the accused denied the nikah, we are trying our best to find out tangible evidence”, he told Dawn and added that a medical examination of the girl could be taken out if any other evidence was not found.

Under the newly implemented Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act 2026, no person under 18 could be married. If the marriage of boys and girls below 18 years old takes place, the parents, groom and other involved could face up to years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs500,000, while the marriage registrar could face one year incarceration and a fine of Rs100,000.

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2026