RAHIM YAR KHAN: A panchayat has given a nine-year-old girl as Vani to be married with a 14-year-old boy to settle a murder dispute.

Gamu Ram, a resident of Chak 178/7-R area of Gulshan Fareed police station, tehsil Liaqatpur, had murdered his wife Bakhto Mai on Feb 21, alleging her of having illicit relations. Police arrested Gamu.

Later, Panchayat was held which decided that nine-year-old sister of Gamu would be married as Vani with Hari Chand, 14, son of Bakhto Mai’s uncle Punnu Ram. Gamu was also asked to pay Rs150,000 to the relatives of Bakhto.

The marriage of ‘Vani girl’ and Hari Chand is set to be held on Friday (today).

Station House Officer Chaudhry Yaseen said he was still investigating the case and could not say anything about it as yet.

Ilyaas Goraya, in-charge police check post, said there was some information of Panchayat held last night but they had to get its details yet.

PETITION: A woman has filed a petition before District and Sessions Judge Chaudhry Abdul Qayyum against the application of the man who claimed to be her husband.

Petitioner Shehla’s counsel Abdul Khaliq Langah told this correspondent that Shehla and her parents had submitted the marriage certificate which was registered on Oct 5, 2015 to prove the identity of her actual husband.

Earlier, Muhammad Irfan, 22, a resident of Jajja Abbasian, some 56km from here, had alleged that a Panchayat had sold his wife Shehla, 18, to one Majnoon.

Irfan said he had contracted love marriage with Shehla and Nikah was registered in the court of Liaqatpur Civil Judge Hafiz Qazi Muhammad Ubaid on Dec 5, 2015. He had filed an application for security before court of the Liaqatpur additional district and sessions judge on Dec 22.

Irfan accused Shehla’s parents of getting abortion forcibly of her pregnancy.

Later, he claimed, a Panchayat was arranged in Basti Chowk Kamala area of Jajja Abbasian where chairman UC chairman Jajja Abbasian Jam Ameen Ghaus, vice chairman Jam Yaqoob, both belonging to the PML-N, excise inspector Niaz Ahmed and a former councilor Jam Khalid Mehmood in the arbitration court sold Shehla to Majnoon, a resident of Rukanpur town, against Rs250,000 and announced fine of Rs50,000 against him. The Panchayat allegedly also ordered Irfan to leave the area for two years. He alleged that Shehla was in the custody of Majnoon.

However, Irfan’s allegations were denied by the authorities. Jam Ameen Ghaus and Jam Yaqoob told they were neither involved in any type of arbitration court nor did they deliver any decision regarding this matter; however, Shehla was already married with a person (Majnoon).

Khanpur Assistant Commissioner Chaudhry Abdul Ghaffar also denied the allegations, saying there was no Panchayat incident, adding the woman had eloped with a man (Irfan) but now her parents sent her with her actual husband (Majnoon).

District Police Officer Zeeshan Asghar told Dawn that he would produce Shehla and her husband Majnoon before the court of district and sessions judge. He said Shehla was not sold to any person.

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2016