Jirga (in)justice: Eleven jailed for vani marriage

Accused of declaring 15-year-old vani, marrying her to nine-year-old.

VAN BHACHCHRAN:

Eleven people, including the fathers of the bride and the groom, have been sent on a judicial remand for allegedly arranging the marriage of a 15-year-old girl with a nine-year-old boy. 

Investigation officer Sher Rasool said those arrested included the nikahkhwan, Muhammad Ramazan; a brother of the bride, Muhammad Imran; and six men who had attended the panchayat that declared the girl vani. He said the panchayat had been arranged in Musakhel area in Van Bhachchran at the request of Muhammad Ashraf, also arrested and sent to the jail. He said Ashraf had accused Imran (the girl’s brother) of sexually assaulting his wife. He said the panchayat had declared the girl vani and ruled that she be married to Ashraf’s nine-year-old nephew.

Meanwhile, the IO said, the girl has been sent to a shelter home in view of threats to her life. He said the FIR was registered under Sections 310-A (punishment for marriage to settle a dispute) and 109 (punishment for abetment) of the Pakistan Penal Code

Published in The Express Tribune, July 18^th, 2012.