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Gherat Khan 13, Expelled From Pakistan School For Getting Married

by Amy Judd | May 31, 2010 at 03:29 pm

532 views | 6 Recommendations | 5 comments

Gherat Khan Was Expelled From School When His Principal Found Out the 13-Year-Old was Married

Gherat Khan was a 7th grade student at Peshawar Model School in Pakistan when his family fell on some hard times and his grandfather thought it would be a good idea for him to marry. He wanted to continue to go to school but when his principal found out he was married, Khan said that he was expelled.

Principal Beatrice Jamil said that she consulted with the directors of the school and they decided that they did not want the 13-year-old explaining the intimate details of married life with the other classmates.

"It's prohibited. It's almost taboo," she said.

Khan's new wife is said to be 16, but although civil law in Pakistan says that boys must be 18 and girls 16 to marry, Islamic law allows for anyone to get married as long as they get their parent's approval and they have reached puberty.

Khan was so upset that he has now filed a complaint with the High Court in Peshawar challenging why he can no longer attend school.

He is happy being married and loves his wife, but wants to be able to continue his schooling. He says that if the school does not want him to talk about some things then he will not.

"I am young but our family had problems," Gherat said, explaining why he tied the knot at such an early age.

Principal Jamil says she does not want Gherat back at her school.

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t k kidwai

at 20:28 on May 31st, 2010

I fail to undestand that marriage of 13 year old boy has to do what with hard times.Generally men fall on hard times after getting married.How the reverse happened,I would like to know.

rumana husain

at 22:11 on May 31st, 2010

i know of a man (now a grandfather, and also from the northern areas of the country), who was married at age 15.6 years despite facing hard times so that his 15 year old wife could look after the house and his ailing mother. he says there was no one else left to do so

t k kidwai

at 00:41 on June 1st, 2010

Thanks Rumana.Now I got the point.In such circumstances marriage at such an age has justification and must be looked at from humanitarian aspect.

rumana husain

at 21:44 on June 1st, 2010

no, even for this reason child-marriages cannot be justified or condoned. letemdangle's comment also seems to be one good reason for indulging in this practice.

Imran Khan Shirani (not verified)

at 02:19 on June 11th, 2010

but still in any case, the child at this age should not be married, and if getting married is very important, than he should not be allowed to go to school, as this would triger other boys wish to marry at this tender age. Moreover the no one can stop the child not to share his bed room feelings with other class mates. The school administration has done a great job by expelling the student, to safeguard other students of the school.