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ISLAMABAD, Jan 21 (APP):The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted post-arrest bail to an accused, Muhammad Irfan, who had been arrested under the Child Marriage Act, against surety bonds worth Rs100,000.
A three-member bench headed by Justice Hashim Kakar heard the bail application. After completion of arguments, the court approved the post-arrest bail of the accused.
During the hearing, counsel for the complainant argued that the accused, Muhammad Irfan, had allegedly abducted a minor girl and stolen gold and cash from her house. The court was informed that the allegedly abducted girl was 16 years old.
Counsel for the accused, Muhammad Sadiq Awan, submitted that the girl had contracted a court marriage with the accused, and that her statement recorded before a magistrate formed part of the judicial record.
He further stated that the girl was one of twin sisters, while her other twin sister had been married three years earlier.
Justice Hashim Kakar remarked that there was no need to draw out the family tree, and questioned whether such arguments were intended to initiate proceedings against other individuals. He further observed that the girl had appeared before a magistrate on three occasions and had clearly stated in her statements that she had married of her own free will. He questioned what the issue was when both husband and wife were consenting.
During the proceedings, the court inquired about the duration of the accused’s custody. Counsel for the defence informed the court that the accused had been in custody since June 2025.
Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, during the hearing, asked whether the trial would proceed under the Child Marriage Act and what punishment was prescribed under the law. The prosecutor informed the court that under the Child Marriage Act, the maximum punishment could extend up to 16 years and four months.
After hearing the arguments, the Supreme Court granted post-arrest bail to the accused, Muhammad Irfan, on submission of surety bonds worth Rs100,000.