Jirga decision on woman’s abduction creates controversy | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Jirga decision on woman’s abduction creates controversy

NAUSHAHRO FEROZE: A Jirga, headed by Gaddi Nasheen Dargah Suleman Shah, Syed Shah Muhammad Shah, has decided that the wife of an abductor would be married to the abducted woman’s husband if she was not released within four days.
A resident of village Wahid Bakhsh Khoso, while saying that such a Jirga was held, stated that his grandson Wazir Khoso had kidnapped Imdad Lashari’s wife 10 days ago. The Jirga, held on his complaint, pronounced to hand over the abductor’s wife and mother to the Lashari community.
It also decided that Wazir’s wife would be married to the husband of the abducted woman, while the mother, being an old woman, would be returned to the Khoso tribe. When contacted, DPO Naushahro Feroze Nisar Channa told The News that he had taken notice of the matter. He said: “It was not confirmed that such a Jirga was held. But I have formed a committee to verify the facts and details of the illegal decision taken by members of the Jirga. An FIR will be lodged if the crime is confirmed and strict action will be taken.”
People hope that the abducted woman would be returned to the Lashari tribe within a day or two, but they also fear that the woman would be treated as Kari and would be murdered. Meanwhile, the Gaddi Nashen, Shah Muhammad Shah, told this correspondent that people had told him that Lashari tribesmen had abducted a Khoso woman and sought his decision on the matter but no decision had been taken so far. However, a Jirga would be summoned in a day or two and the matter would be taken up, he said.
Source: The News
Date:3/20/2009