Justice systems: Court summons panchayat that ordered wani
Man agrees to give two minor daughters, signs Rs1.5 million note for marrying woman without her family’s approval.
MULTAN:
A panchayat in Jalalpur Pirwala had last month ordered that two girls be married to the nephews of a woman their father had married without her family’s approval.
A Khanewal district and sessions judge has summoned the panchayat leaders and the girls’ family on October 19 in a petition filed by Shameem Bibi*, the girls’ mother.
The panchayat also made the man, Khalilur Rehman*, a resident of Kannu village, divorce Tasneem Bibi* and sign a promissory note for Rs1.5 million. Rehman agreed to marry his seven-year-old and 11-month-old daughters to Tasneem’s nephews when they were of suitable age.
The panchayat was convened on September 4, 2011, three months after Rehman and Tasneem contracted marriage in Union Council-113. It was headed by Maulvi Abdul Aziz*, who teaches Arabic at a government school in Khanewal. Aziz also solemised the children’s nikkah.
Tasneem’ brothers who had petitioned the panchayat told The Express Tribune that Rehman deserved the punishment. “He misled our sister and married her despite having a family to tend to,” they said, “He should be grateful we have not killed him,” they said.
Talking to The Tribune, Rehman said he regretted his actions. “Tasneem was our neighbour. She used to visit our house to teach my children. I started seeing her and we decided to get married,” he said. He said he had not realised that his actions would have such consequences for his daughters. “They are too young to be married,” he said.
His wife, who has approached the sessions court, said she was ready to forgive her husband for the second marriage if he supported her in resisting the panchayat decision.
“This is against the law and one of my daughters is just 11-month-old. How can I let her be taken away from me?” she asked.
The panchayat leader was not available for his comments. According to neighbours he had fled on learning that the girls’ mother had moved court against his decision.
*Names have been changed to protect identities
Published in The Express Tribune, October 14th, 2011.
A panchayat in Jalalpur Pirwala had last month ordered that two girls be married to the nephews of a woman their father had married without her family’s approval.
A Khanewal district and sessions judge has summoned the panchayat leaders and the girls’ family on October 19 in a petition filed by Shameem Bibi*, the girls’ mother.
The panchayat also made the man, Khalilur Rehman*, a resident of Kannu village, divorce Tasneem Bibi* and sign a promissory note for Rs1.5 million. Rehman agreed to marry his seven-year-old and 11-month-old daughters to Tasneem’s nephews when they were of suitable age.
The panchayat was convened on September 4, 2011, three months after Rehman and Tasneem contracted marriage in Union Council-113. It was headed by Maulvi Abdul Aziz*, who teaches Arabic at a government school in Khanewal. Aziz also solemised the children’s nikkah.
Tasneem’ brothers who had petitioned the panchayat told The Express Tribune that Rehman deserved the punishment. “He misled our sister and married her despite having a family to tend to,” they said, “He should be grateful we have not killed him,” they said.
Talking to The Tribune, Rehman said he regretted his actions. “Tasneem was our neighbour. She used to visit our house to teach my children. I started seeing her and we decided to get married,” he said. He said he had not realised that his actions would have such consequences for his daughters. “They are too young to be married,” he said.
His wife, who has approached the sessions court, said she was ready to forgive her husband for the second marriage if he supported her in resisting the panchayat decision.
“This is against the law and one of my daughters is just 11-month-old. How can I let her be taken away from me?” she asked.
The panchayat leader was not available for his comments. According to neighbours he had fled on learning that the girls’ mother had moved court against his decision.
*Names have been changed to protect identities
Published in The Express Tribune, October 14th, 2011.