MIANWALI, August 20 2006: A 20-year-old woman Sarwar Bibi got divorce from her husband, who happened to be 10 year younger than her, only after the area police intervened as the marriage was a violation of the law promulgated against the cruel custom of vani. Reports said one Muhammad Ikram, brother of Sarwar Bibi of Shadia village in Wan-Bhachran police jurisdiction, had eloped with a woman of Dhuli tribe of the same village.

The village notables pressured Ikram’s family, asking them to return the woman. Finally, the woman was returned. As both tribes were at daggers drawn over the elopement, the matter was put before a village panchayat to ease the tension. The members of panchayat gave a unanimous verdict that to compensate the Dhuli tribe for the `dishonour’, a sister of the `culprit’ would be give in nikah to the younger brother of the eloped woman, who was just 10-year-old.

Accordingly, Sarwar Bibi’s Nikah was performed with 10-year-old Haq Nawaz of Dhuli tribe. It was decided that on attaining puberty, the groom would be handed over the bride. Meanwhile, the matter came to the notice of DPO Zarat kiyani, who ordered Wan-Bhachran police to register a case against the members of panchayat, prayer-leader Abdur Rehman (Nikah-Khawan) and notables of both the tribes involved in the decision.

Apprehending arrests, the boy was asked by his family to divorce the woman, who did accordingly. The police have, however, assured the members of the both tribes that the cases against them would be withdrawn.
Source: Dawn
Date:8/21/2006