Two more sisters fall victim to Vani in Mianwali
MIANWALI, April 17 2006: Despite tall claims of the government, ‘Vani’ incidents do happen time and again in the province, especially in the backward areas. The latest incident has been reported from Bundial village (Qaidabad), 40 kms from here, where Nikkahs of two minor girls were solemnised on the order of a Punchayat head, while a 12-year-old girl, would be handed over to the brother of a runaway girl by April 20 this year.
The Punchayat head has also threatened the minor girl’s father not to report the matter to the police or the press, otherwise, they would face a severe backlash. The couple’s entry in the village has also been banned. Reportedly, Rehmatullah of a cobbler family had relations with Shehnaz Bibi, the unmarried daughter of his neighbour, Ghulam Muhammad of a blacksmith family, and married her in another city quietly.
The couple then sent the copies of Nikkahnama to their families. The girl’s father approached Malik Muhammad Yar Bandial, the Punchayat head of the village, to resolve the issue, who considered it a matter of honour as the couple had challenged the entire village. The Punchayat head in the presence of other village elders decided that Rehmatullah’s two sisters, 12-year-old Amina Bibi and 7-year-old Rehana Bibi, be married to two men of the girl’s family. The village’s prayer leader, Muhammad Esa, solemnised their Nikkahs, which were not registered.
As per decision, Amina has been given to girl’s 28-year-old brother Muhammad Afzal, an married man with two children, while Rehana was married to eight-year-old Muhammad Ramzan, nephew of the Shahnaz’s father. When contacted, the Punchayat head said it was a minor issue relating to the families of lower casts (Kamees).
The parents of the Vani girls have appealed to Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool, Chief Minister Pervez Elahi and the Supreme Court chief justice to look into the matter, save their innocent girls and protect their son’s life which is in danger.
Source: The News
Date:4/17/2006
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