MANSEHRA: Shinkiari police have booked 13 members of a jirga, including a cleric, which decreed wedding of a seven-year-old girl with a man to settle a feud that started after uncle of the former captured a picture of the latter’s aunt in Bari Bag area of Siren valley last year.

“We have arrested four jirga members and raids are underway for arrest of nine others, including a cleric who solemnised the wedlock of minor girl with a man of rival party,” SHO Shinkiari police station Amir Khan told mediapersons by phone on Thursday.

He said that the police took action after receiving information from the local people and arrested jirga members, including Taj Mohammad, Mohammad Javed, Malik Aman and Shahjehan.

“We have also seized the wedlock papers and the register on which it was registered by a local registrar,” said Mr Amir.

Mohammad Nazeer told mediapersons that his brother, Mohammad Asif, had mistakenly captured photo of a local woman through his mobile camera, which sparked the tension between his and the woman’s family.

He said that a jirga was summoned which declared his daughter, 7, vani and also received Rs200,000 as fine under the local customs being practised in Siren valleys since long.

“The jirga not only solemnised wedlock of my minor daughter with Mohammad Rizwan, nephew of the woman whose picture was taken, but also fined us that my father paid in my absence,” said Mr Nazeer.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2020