?Vani? ? the practice of giving away young
women girls to settle feuds.
Vani - Is it Islamic or cultural ?
Girl falls prey to Vani as police remain silentDERA GHAZI KHAN: The Rukhsati of one of the two sisters who were declared Vani a week ago took place in Basti Bughlani, Taunsa Sharif, on Thursday night but neither the administration nor the police bothered to intervene.
The Rukhsati ceremony of 13-year-old Samina was attended by a number of locals and refreshments were served on the occasion. When contacted, Taunsa Sharif DSP Asad Aliani said Samina?s mother and brother had told the police that Watta Satta was one of their customs and the marriage was being held as per the custom. He said according to the marriage form, the girl?s age was 17 years and the groom was also an adult.
He said though there was no complainant yet the police had contacted lawyers for legal opinion and action would be taken in case of violation of the law. He said the age of Lali, the second Vani girl, was reportedly 11 years and her Nikah had not been solemnised so far.
Talking to newsmen after appearing before police officers on Thursday, the newly-wed couple said their marriage was according to the consent of their families. ?Our marriage is according to local custom Watta Satta and it is not a Vani case,? they said.
They denied the involvement of money to settle the dispute. Earlier, the couple was produced before a magistrate in Taunsa where they recorded their statements. Sources said that a villager Iqbal had an affair with Perveen of the same village. Perveen eloped with Iqbal and the couple tied the knot. On the complaint of the girl?s father Ghulam Yasin Maswani, the Taunsa Sharif police registered a case against Iqbal under Section 365-B and 380 of the PPC.
A week ago, a Punchayat comprising Haji Muhammad Bakhsh Gazar, Seth Zaman and elders from both families was held to settle the dispute. The Punchayat decided to give Iqbal?s sisters, 13-year-old Samina and seven-year-old Lali, to Perveen?s brothers Saleem and Khalil respectively. Both the families agreed to the decision. A cleric solemnised Samina?s Nikah with Saleem, which was registered at the Sokar Union Council on December 8.
Topic: Vani - Is it Islamic or cultural ?