Crimes against women are common and varied in our society but only the most shocking catch critical attention, and that too when committed in urban centres. That fortunate combination certainly saved a 12-year-old girl from Mardan from being forced into marriage with a man thrice her age, and father of nine, in Rawalpindi in a case of vani – an outlawed tribal custom that supposedly restores honour to a wronged family.

Alerted by conscientious citizens, the city police saved little Reshma from Mardan and restored her to her mother. But for how long? What fate awaits Reshma and her family once her brother Jilal Hussain and Sher Gul, the man he was giving her in marriage to atone for his sin of eloping and marrying Gul’s daughter, are out of jail?

Since vani continues to be practiced in culturally backward and tribal areas of Pakistan despite being banned in 2011, the society has to answer the question for a lot more Reshmas.

“Because of lack of social development in tribal areas, the centuries old custom is still alive there,” said a senior police officer, happy for saving the one Reshma but sad for the prevalence of the abhorrent custom.

At least, the law banning Vani should be extended to all parts of the country, he said.

In practice, though, tribal families migrating from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are taking the custom to other areas of the country in their search of livelihood. Indeed, it was the first-ever vani case in Rawalpindi district, according to the officer.

Had the unthinkable marriage between Sher Gul and Reshma been solemnised in tribal area instead of Rawalpindi’s Pirwadhai locality, the little girl’s fate would have been sealed forever. Though a cleric and two witnesses were willing to perform nikkah, the neighbours of Sher Gul had the sense and heart to object to the injustice and alerted the police.

People applauded the vigilant neighbours for their timely action, but, sadly, the girl’s brother and Sher Gul insisted to police that they did nothing wrong in “honouring a tribal code”.

On the other hand, police investigating officer Tanveer Mehmood found little Reshma “like a doll, so innocent that she didn’t know what marriage is”.

Sub-Inspector Tanveer quoted her telling him: “I was in madressah when my brother came and asked me that I have to go with him to Rawalpindi. On reaching here, I was given new clothes and mehndi was applied on my hands.”

Each one accused in the case face up to seven years in prison if convicted.

Human rights activist Tahira Abdullah said: “It was not the first case in which an underage girl was married, though it was the first case which came to light through media and reported to the police.”

She said that vani is a bad tradition and should be checked.

Published in Dawn, February 6th, 2016