Qaseem Shah, Web Desk:Â
QUETTA — A chilling case of child exploitation in Balochistan took a dramatic turn on Tuesday when law enforcement officers tracked down and arrested Abdul Bari in Chaman. Bari, the father of a young girl named Babo, is accused of arranging her illegal marriage to an elderly man in Kuchlak—a suburban area just outside Quetta.
​What initially surfaced as an appalling instance of child marriage quickly escalated into a complex criminal investigation. Deputy Commissioner Chaman Habib Bangalzai confirmed Bari’s arrest, revealing that police now believe the circumstances surrounding Babo’s forced marriage are connected to the recent murder of a 15-year-old girl in Kuchlak.
​”We are currently coordinating with Quetta Police to transfer custody of the suspect and finalize the registration of the First Information Report (FIR),” Bangalzai stated, noting that cross-district teams are following key leads.
​The disturbing revelations prompted immediate intervention from Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, who ordered a full-scale inquiry into every aspect of the incident. Highlighting the administration’s stance, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Information and Political Affairs Shahid Rind assured the public that operations are underway to hunt down the primary suspect and every accomplice involved.
​”There is a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to the violation of child rights,” Rind said in a statement. “Balochistan has strict laws prohibiting child marriage. Absolutely no one involved in this horrific situation will be above the law, and any administrative negligence or oversight during this investigation will be dealt with severely.”
​The provincial government has directed local administration and police forces to secure complete protection for young Babo while accelerating efforts to dismantle the network behind both the forced marriage and the linked homicide.
