Man tries to self-immolate after jirga tells him to wed underage daughters

Sanaullah, an alleged karo, was arrested by the police following attempted suicide.

SUKKUR: After being ordered by a jirga to marry his two underage daughters to the sons of a policeman, Sanaullah Banglani - an alleged ‘karo’ - tried to set himself on fire in front of Jacobabad Press Club as a final form of protest.

A jirga held on Sunday in Gul Sher Kandrani village under the presidency of influential landlord Jahangir Banglani gave the verdict against Sanaullah. The six-month long karo-kari dispute between police constable Abdul Samad Banglani and Sanaullah started when the policeman allegedly murdered his two wives on the suspicion that they were having an affair with Sanaullah.

Fearing for his life, Sanaullah fled to Balochistan and only returned a few days back. Sources claimed that the police deliberately toned down the case against Abdul Samad so that he could not only escape the consequences for murdering his wives but could also continue to perform his duties as a police constable.



Sunday’s jirga declared Sanaullah a karo and imposed a fine of Rs1.2 million. It also ordered him to marry his two underage daughters - five-year-old Rubal and 15-year-old Zarnaz - to the two sons of the policeman. However, Sanaullah’s son, Abdul Rasool, who was representing his father, refused to accept the decision.

Subsequently, Jahangir - son of Sardar Akbar Banglani - and his men raided Sanaullah’s house and kidnapped his wife and elder daughter. DIGP Larkana Khadim Rind suspended Garhi Hassan police station SHO Ghulam Farooq Brohi and ordered an inquiry into the matter. Jahangir was later arrested by the police and the two women were rescued.

In order to protest the injustice that he and his family have been put through, Sanaullah tried to set himself on fire in front of the press club but was stopped by the police and citizens. Sanaullah had previously claimed that he was being falsely implicated in the karo-kari dispute and was being framed as revenge for supporting Pakistan Peoples Party MPA Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani against Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam’s Jahangir during the general elections. He also claimed that he has received threats from certain influential people and that he requires protection.

However, Sanaullah was taken to the police station where a case of attempted suicide was registered against him. “Instead of hearing my plea and providing me justice, the police have arrested me and have filed a case against me,” Sanaullah told The Express Tribune. “DSP Muhammad Zaman Rind is helping the influential people who want to harm me and has submitted a false inquiry report.”

Jacobabad City police station ASI Sikandar Bhutto confirmed that Sanaullah attempted self-immolation and that an FIR has been registered against him. Rind said he had recorded the statements of the people involved in the jirga and also confirmed its verdict. However, he added the police have no evidence on the ‘bartering’ of girls. DSP Abdullah Lakhair echoed Rind’s words.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 14^th, 2014.