In Pakistan's conservative Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a man (name withheld) has been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping and kidnapping his underage wife, as confirmed by the victim's lawyer on Monday.
"This landmark decision in our province marks a significant step forward," stated Mian Safeer, the lawyer handling the case.
The verdict was issued by a court specializing in gender-based violence cases in the north-western region of Pakistan, emphasizing the judiciary's commitment to upholding women's rights.
The victim, who had only undergone a spiritual marriage ceremony, was residing with her parents at the time of the crime.
According to Safeer, the man abducted the underage girl, held her captive in his residence for several days, and sexually assaulted her.
The court convicted him on charges of both rape and abduction, sentencing him to life imprisonment and imposing a fine.
Pakistan, with a population exceeding 240 million, grapples with persistent issues of violence against women entrenched in patriarchal norms.
Marital rape was officially criminalized in the country in 2021, marking a significant legal milestone.
Earlier this year, Pakistan saw its first conviction for marital rape, where a man received a three-year prison sentence.
Underage marriages, often arranged by guardians and deeply rooted in cultural and societal traditions, remain prevalent despite legal reforms aimed at protecting vulnerable individuals.
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