Bridegroom among four held over wani marriage

Victim’s brother eloped and married for love

DERA GAZI KHAN: A woman was declared wani after her brother’s love marriage, according to the decision of a panchayat in Alipur. Under the order of the panchayat, the girl would be married off, four kanals of land would be given to the other party and the family would be excommunicated from the area for 10 years. On the order of regional police officer, the force took action and arrested four people, including the groom, and registered a case against them.

A man identified as Mohammad Asim and a woman named Masmata Bano Bibi, who is the fiancé of Shehbaz, eloped and got married in Moze Gonus, which falls in the Saddar police precinct of Muzafargarh tehsil. A panchayat was reportedly held over the matter and Masmata Bibi was returned. In terms of the settlement, 15-year-old Najma Bibi, sister of Mohammad Asim, was declared wani. It was decided that she would be forcibly married off to Shehbaz.

Furthermore, the groom’s family was fined four kanals of land and excommunicated for 10 years. Taking the notice of the issue, RPO Mohammad Umer Sheikh directed the DPO of Muzafargarh to take immediate action and start an investigation.
Alipur police station took immediate action and arrested four people, including the groom and his relatives. After registered the case, police started further investigations against the suspects and the panchayat. Raids were being conducted to search for the head of the panchayat and others involved. Investigation officer Faryad Ahmed told The Express Tribune that the arrested suspected had been presented before the court. They were all sent on a 14-day judicial remand. The accused will be presented before the court again on January 11, 2019.