August 20, 2008	Wednesday	Sha’aban 17, 1429

MULTAN, Aug 19: A 30-year old woman has sought protection from government high-ups against the decision of a panchayat (jury) declaring her ‘kali’.

Describing her ordeal at a press conference at Rajanpur on Tuesday, Ameeran Mai, a resident of Mauza Gadda Naarr, said she had married one Abdul Razzaq Aliyani some seven years ago. After three years of her marriage, her in-laws accused her of having relations with a man of the village at a panchayat. The panchayat, comprising a BMP employee, Ismail Sadwani, and Ali Sher, declared her ‘kali’ prescribing death for her as a punishment.

However, she said, before the implementation of the panchayat verdict, she somehow managed to return to her parents and filed a divorce case seeking separation from her husband. After getting divorce from Razzaq, she married one Yaqoob Sikhani.

She alleged that annoyed by her marriage, Razzaq and Sher Ali killed her uncle Miro and a cousin Alam. The accused were, however, released by the police.

She said the accused, meanwhile, lodged many fake cases against her husband Yaqoob and her father-in-law Muhammad Murad in Shahwali, Rojhan and Goth Mazari police stations but Rojhan DSP Bashir Ahmed declared them innocent.

She said Shahwali police, instead of providing her protection against the accused, lodged fake cases against her in-laws.

She appealed to Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and IG for protection against threat to her life.

Shahwali police station SHO Muhammad Azam was not available for his comments.