Unexpected costs of going against the family’s wishes

MAMU KANJAN: The relatives of a youth were beaten up by nearly 300 of his wife’s relatives who locked them out of their houses and shops.

The police eventually intervened and the family returned to their homes. According to police officials, in village 454 GB Pehari, a youth contracted a court marriage with a girl of the same village and took her to Karachi. On Thursday, nearly 300 armed men attacked the groom, Asif’s family. The bride’s family warned them to either return the girl or to leave the village within three hours. The bride’s family also threatened Asif’s family that if they failed to do either their houses would be burnt down.

Inspector Javed Butt said that the mob consisted mostly of the girl’s close relatives who demanded that she be returned to them. “They apparently threatened Asif’s entire family that they would set their houses on fire while they slept. Those people are terrified,” he said, adding that the police were guarding the area.

Police officials took the upset members of the bride’s family back to their houses but no case has been registered yet. Meanwhile, the groom’s family members are still apprehensive about whether police protection will be enough to guarantee their safety.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 21^st, 2010.