Resisting wani: Family told to leave village for disagreeing with panchayat
The panchayat directed Imran’s family to marry one of his daughters to Rizwana’s brother Ahsan, 22, as settlement.
As Imran's family refused to marry one of his daughters in settlement, they were told to leave the village.
HAFIZABAD:
A family was allegedly told to leave the village on Friday after they refused to accept a panchayat decision to marry their daughters into the complainants’ family to settle an elopement charge, police said.
Vanike Tarar police said that Imran, a resident of Rahgo Syedan and father of five, married his cousin Rizwana on January 6. On January 14, they said, Rizwana’s father Ata Muhammad, her brother Mohsin Raza and Ahsan Raza, and her uncle Nadir allegedly attacked their house. Rizwana and Imran fled. They later submitted an application to Magistrate Sadat Rasool, saying that they had married of their free-will, but without the consent of their families and feared that they will be killed for it. On January 16, police said, Rizwana’s father called a panchayat and said that Imran had brought “shame” to his family. The panchayat directed Imran’s family to marry one of his daughters, Afshan, 10, Aqsa, 8, or his niece Sania, 12, to Rizwana’s brother Ahsan, 22, as settlement.
Imran’s family refused to accept this, police said. They were then told to leave the village. Talking to The Express Tribune later, Imran’s brother said that Ata Muhammad had threatened to kill them unless there was a settlement.
Vanike Tarar police station in charge Jameel Qaiser said that the couple had asked the police for protection, however, he said they had not filed a complaint against Ata Muhammad, his sons or his brother. He said Imran’s father, Muhammad Shahbaz, had filed a complaint against the panchayat members. He said police were looking for them.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2013.
A family was allegedly told to leave the village on Friday after they refused to accept a panchayat decision to marry their daughters into the complainants’ family to settle an elopement charge, police said.
Vanike Tarar police said that Imran, a resident of Rahgo Syedan and father of five, married his cousin Rizwana on January 6. On January 14, they said, Rizwana’s father Ata Muhammad, her brother Mohsin Raza and Ahsan Raza, and her uncle Nadir allegedly attacked their house. Rizwana and Imran fled. They later submitted an application to Magistrate Sadat Rasool, saying that they had married of their free-will, but without the consent of their families and feared that they will be killed for it. On January 16, police said, Rizwana’s father called a panchayat and said that Imran had brought “shame” to his family. The panchayat directed Imran’s family to marry one of his daughters, Afshan, 10, Aqsa, 8, or his niece Sania, 12, to Rizwana’s brother Ahsan, 22, as settlement.
Imran’s family refused to accept this, police said. They were then told to leave the village. Talking to The Express Tribune later, Imran’s brother said that Ata Muhammad had threatened to kill them unless there was a settlement.
Vanike Tarar police station in charge Jameel Qaiser said that the couple had asked the police for protection, however, he said they had not filed a complaint against Ata Muhammad, his sons or his brother. He said Imran’s father, Muhammad Shahbaz, had filed a complaint against the panchayat members. He said police were looking for them.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2013.