A 10-YEAR-OLD girl was dramatically rescued moments before being forced into a marriage with a 50-year-old man in Pakistan.

Police raided Muhammad Mehar's house in Khipro village where the child was getting married Jeetmal Mehar, almost same age as her dad.

4 A 10-year-old girl was rescued buy police moments before being forced to marry a 50-year-old man

The groom, from Rahim Yar Khan, had allegedly offered £5,400 to the parents for the girl.

Police arrested eleven people including the child's mum, who would have had to have been present when the marriage contract was signed.

But the groom managed to flee the scene and is currently on the run.

Investigating officer Gulzar Mari said: "On December 19, around 11am we received information that a minor girl was being married to a 50-year-old man.

4 The child's mother was among 11 people arrested at the property but the groom managed to escape

"We took immediate action and raided the house of Muhammad Mehar. He was the broker in this marriage and had taken £340 from the groom and £170 from bride's family."

Masmat Nabiat said that she had agreed to marry her daughter off to the man who is 40-years older than the child because the family had to pay a loan of around £3400.

She said: "My husband was ill and for his treatment we had taken loan from some influential people.

4 Qazi Haji Solangi (pictured) who was performing the ceremony claimed not to know how old the girl was

"My husband is unable to stand on his feet and can't walk that is why he was not present at the Nikah (Islamic marriage) ceremony of our daughter.

"Due to financial constraints we couldn't pay back the loan. The people we had taken money from were pressuring us that they will recover their loan amount by selling our house.

"Muhammad Mehar contacted us through some sources and offered £5400 if we will marry our daughter to Jeetmal Mehar.

"Neither I nor my husband wanted to do this injustice to our daughter but we had no choice.

"The groom also said he will not demand any dowry and he will bear all the expenses of marriage."

Qazi Haji Solangi, who performed the marriage said: "I was approached by Muhammad Mehar for reciting Nikah.

4 The girl has now been sent to live with her grandfather while police continue to investigate

"I didn't know the girl is only 10 years old as I didn't ask for age of bride and groom.

"I just asked the names of the bride, groom and their parents name and recited Nikah."

Police have registered a case under Sindh Child Marriages Restraint Act and brought all the arrested people before a court on Wednesday.

The court has ordered the bride to be sent with her maternal grandfather.

All the others arrested were locked up until investigation is completed.

The court has also given a two-days time to police to arrest the groom.

Child marriage is a punishable offence in Pakistan with a minimum punishment of two-years inside.

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The sentence can be extended to 3 years and a guilty party could also be liable to a fine.

UNICEF estimate, three percent of girls in Pakistan are married before they turn 15 and 21 percent before age 18.

The organisation says poverty, lack of education, and culture are the reasons behind arcane practice.

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