KHAIRPUR   -  Khairpur police have raided a wedding party and foiled an attempt to get young children married on Thursday.

The 14-year-old groom, Ayaz Ali, was about to tie the knot with the 13-year-old bride, Saima, amid the presence of wedding guests when the police raid came.

The police arrested 20 people including the groom, the bride’s parents and guests. Haripur SP Nosherwan said the underage ‘couple’ would be presented before the court today. Reportedly, the nikkah officiant fled the scene before the police could arrest him. A case has been registered under the Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act.

It is pertinent to note that in Sindh, the minimum age to get married is 18 for both men and women.