Swara case: Nine put behind bars in Swat

Court grants one-day remand of accused.

MINGORA: At least eight people allegedly involved in a swara case in Madyan tehsil, Swat were sent to jail by a court of law on Monday.

In the late hours of Sunday, Madyan police raided a hujra in Shah Gram where 14-year-old Zabiha, daughter of Muzammil Shah, was being married off to Ajab Khan. Police arrested Muzammil, Ajab and his parents Abdul Wadood and Norina Bibi, Maulvi Tahir Shah and Muhammad Hussain. Members of the jirga that decided the swara, Baaz Khan, Sher Bahadur and Syed Qamar, were also arrested.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Swat police Spokesperson Muhammad Rahman said there was an old enmity between the families of Muzammil and Wadood. “Multiple jirgas were convened and it was finally decided to marry Zabiha to Wadood’s son Ajab,” said Rahman. The accused were presented before the court in Gul Kadda.

After recording the statement of the culprits and the girl, the court granted a one-day remand of the suspects who were sent to Timergara Jail.

Pleading innocence, Tahir told The Express Tribune, “I am an educated man and I condemn swara. I was unaware that the marriage was decided under this custom or else I would have never come.” He stated early marriages were a common practice in the region and he was not involved in the case.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 4^th, 2015.