April 06, 2008	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 28, 1429

MIANWALI, April 5: The fate of Afghan ‘lovebirds’, who fled a refugee camp on Thursday night but were caught on terror suspicion at a check post on Punjab-NWFP boundary, is yet not decided and a jirga (consultative meeting) of Afghan elders is in progress at Kot-Chandna camp, some 35 kilometres away from here, till the filing of this report at 11pm on Saturday.

According to sources, Afghan elders, known as ‘Mashers’, are discussing the fate of 18-year-old Feroze Shah and his 16-year-old cousin Bibi Ghaman, who revolted against norms and taboos which prevented them from marrying by choice. After being frustrated of strict social sanctions, they decided to flee the camp and travel to Helmand town in Afghanistan to live a free and happy matrimonial life.

They boarded a coach from Kot-Chandna on Thursday night and when the vehicle they were travelling on reached Dara Tang check post, the Isakhel police personnel frisked the passengers and considering the duo ‘potential terrorists’ held them. Later, the couple was handed over to Kalabagh police and during initial probe, it was revealed that they were not terrorists and were ‘lovebirds’ indeed.

Meanwhile, human rights activists are keeping a vigil outside the police station. They are pressing the police to save the lives of the couple and instead release them immediately.

While talking to Dawn on Saturday night, Kalabagh SHO Zulfikar Cheena said that parents of the couple had refused to lodge an abduction case and instead stressed handing over the couple back to them.

He said that ‘Mashers’ summoned from different Afghan refugees camps have gathered at Kot-Chandna camp to decide the fate of the couple and the police were waiting for their verdict. He said that the police wanted ensuring the life security of the couple from some “local” notables.

DSP Fida Hussain said that since both the boy and the girl were Afghan nationals, the police were waiting for the outcome of the jirga.

Mianwali, DPO Abdul Aziz Khan expressed his ignorance regarding the whole episode, stating that he had resumed his duties on Saturday after a three-week medical leave. However, he assured that the couple would not be killed as per Afghan customs and that he would instruct the police concerned to ensure life security of the couple from notables before handing them over to their elders.

The couple is still detained in the police lockup, without any case involving police cognisance registered against them. However, a policewoman has been called to guard the girl.