April 08, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 1, 1429

MIANWALI, April 7: Two Afghan lovebirds who had fled a refugee camp on Thursday evening but were caught by Kalabagh police, were separated by an Afghan jirga on Monday.

The jirga, led by spiritual leader Pir Mohammad Amin Rohani from Bannu, won the custody of the boy and the girl after giving an assurance to the police that they would not be handed over to the firing squad.

Feroze Khan (18) and Bibi Gul (16) had left the Kot Chandana camp for Helmand, Afghanistan, to spend a peaceful life there. Policemen caught them at Dara Tang, but mistook them for terrorists.

But after learning about their identity, the Kalabagh police got in touch with their elders from Masher and Arbab clans, telling them that the handover would take place only after the jirga assured them that the couple would not be killed.

After a hectic discussion outside the Kalabagh police station, the Afghan jirga announced a ban on the entry of Feroz Khan and Gul into the Kot Chandana camp for one month. They would be lodged with their relatives living in other refugee camps.

Bibi Gul would after some time marry her “original” fiancé, Zair Gul.

Under oath, the girl’s parents promised her safety. In case of any violation, the offender would pay one million Pakistani rupees as compensation to the aggrieved family.

Moreover, in case of any violation of the accord, the cars of the two fathers would be confiscated in favour of the state. (Both men are taxi drivers).

Talking to Dawn after his release, a dejected Feroz Khan said he could not live without Bibi Gul and would definitely try to meet her. He claimed that Gul had never been engaged to Zair Gul, accusing the jirga of deceit. He expressed fears the jirga would shoot them later.