August 04, 2006	Friday	Rajab 8, 1427

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JHANG, Aug 3: A man is being forced to hand over her three-year-old daughter as `bride’ to his in-laws who are guardians of the four-year-old `groom’ as per the decision of a panchayat.

Iltaf Hussain of Islam Nagar locality in Jhang Saddar area told Dawn that 14 years ago at the time of his marriage, the family of his wife Manzooran of Basti Saleh Shah set the condition that his first daughetr would be married to a boy from the family of his in-laws, according to the tradition of “watta satta”.

He said about three-and-a-half years ago her wife gave birth to a girl. Immediately after her birth his in-laws, along with his wife, started demanding the fulfillment of the condition laid down at the time of his marriage by marrying the girl to a newly-born boy of their family.

Iltaf said he resisted the demand for three years, but, at last, three months ago he succumbed to the pressure and performed the “Nikah” of his daughter Aqsa with the four-year-old son of his brother-in-law.

He said just one month after the Nikah, the groom’s father started demanding the “Rukhsati” (custody of the bride). But, he said, by the time he had realized his mistake and refused to accept the demand.

He said his in-laws called a panchayat comprising area notables, who urged him to hand over the girl to his in-laws but he remained adamant. As a result, his wife got divorce from him and started living with her parents, who later on started threatening him of dire consequences in case he did not accept their demand.

Iltaf is also being pressured by the members of the panchayat for implementation of their decision. Iltaf has approached the local police station to seek protection for himself and his minor daughter.

KILLED FOR ‘HONOUR’: A young girl and her mother were killed at Maghi Sulta village, 25 kilometers from here, in what seemed to be a case of honour killing.

Reports said Fatima, an unmarried village girl, eloped with her paramour a month ago with alleged connivance of her mother Jindan. She was later returned to her parents after the interference of local notables.

Both Fatima and her mother went missing a few days back.

Later, one Mukhtar, who claimed to be an eyewitness, alleged that Mulazam and Nusrat, both brothers of Fatima, along with three unidentified accomplices, killed the women with hatchets in a deserted house in the outskirts of the village. He said the accused threw the bodies into the river.

Police have registered a case on the report of the ‘eyewitnesses’.