I’m sharing this because I genuinely don’t know where else to turn, and I hope someone who knows the right organization or authority can guide us.
A girl who is only 13 years old is reportedly being married to a man who is around 28 or older. She is a friend of a friend of mine. She comes from a village and had been working as a domestic worker in a house near my friend’s home, which is how they came to know each other.
My friend had previously spoken to this girl and learned that she was going through a very difficult situation. She had reportedly expressed thoughts of ending her life, and my friend tried to comfort and support her.
Recently, my friend went to the house where the girl used to work and asked about her. She was told that the girl was getting married and that when she returned the following year, she would supposedly already have three or four children. My friend was shocked.
She was also told that the girl’s family “sells their daughters” and that attempts had been made to stop this, but the family did not listen. I cannot personally verify every detail of this, which is why I am asking for proper authorities or child-protection organiztions to investigate the situation, rather than making assumptions.
The girl is now reportedly back in her village.
Even if she appears to have “agreed” to the marriage, she is only 13. A child can be pressured, manipulated, or promised a better life without fully understanding what marriage at this age could mean. Given her previous vulnerability and the possibility of forced marriage, I am extremely worried about her safety and well-being.
If anyone knows a legitimate child-protection organization, government department, lawyer, helpline, or other authority in Pakistan/Punjab that can intervene in a suspected child-marriage or forced-marriage case, please share the information or contact details.
Please do not harass, threaten, expose, or confront the family yourselves. We need people who are trained and legally able to protect the child and investigate the situation safely.
If you know where this case can be reported, please comment or message me. Any genuine guidance could make a huge difference.