The police have finally registered a case against a Bahawalnagar landlord for forcing a ‘marriage’ between his 50-year-old brother and an under-age girl. It is worth noting, however, that this became possible only after the victim’s father, a peasant, brought the matter to the Punjab chief minister’s notice. Even so, there has been no arrest and few indications of a full inquiry.

The case illustrates how common medieval transgressions against citizens’ constitutional rights are in Pakistan. This is particularly true of rural and underdeveloped areas where the effective control of tribal and feudal elites — that often collude in the crime — renders the state’s authority nominal. The victims are the poor and powerless, deserving therefore of greater access to police and local bodies’ officials. In actuality, however, representatives of the government are not immune to the feudal and tribal elites’ power, thus nipping in the bud any chance of justice for the victims.

The immediate victims of barbaric crimes such as karo-kari, vani and swara are usually women, condemned to virtual slavery and certain abuse. Despite being citizens with constitutional freedoms and human rights, a medieval system of patriarchy and an ineffective state justice system allow them to be reduced to the status of chattel on the basis of gender. Some, including politicians, defend such crimes as social or tribal customs.

 They forget that no custom or tradition can be allowed to violate the laws and constitution of the country. Such abuse tramples the victims’ rights while simultaneously making a mockery of the state justice system. The project to modernise Pakistan must include the extension of the state’s writ and protection to all areas, particularly where tribal and feudal elites hold sway. Meanwhile, access to police and other complaint centres must be improved, and the functioning of such institutions be cleansed of the influence of powerful individuals.