MIANWALI, Nov 23: Another man has given his two minor daughters in ‘vani’ to unmatched spouses as compensation to his rivals for settling some 50-year-old issue. However, this time the police invoked special powers and registered a case against both the parties under sections 310-A and 109 PPC. Since the implementation of ‘vani’ and honour killing laws, it is the first ever case registered in Punjab under section 310-A PPC.

Wan Bhachran police had instituted a case against five accused — Shamsher Ali, Ghulam Muhammad, Khan Baig, Muhammad and Sher Muhammad Amir of the Joaieykhel tribe for killing Fateh Sher and Mustafa, residents of Ghanjera Shekhali village of the Sherikhel tribe, in 1955.

A few days after the incident, Muhammad Nawaz, son of Shah Muhammad Joaieykhel, informed deceased Fateh Sher’s family that the murderers were hiding in a house of Wichwin Bala village. At this, family members of the deceased attacked the house and killed Raj Mir and injured seriously Muhammad Amir.

In 1960, the two rival families settled the issue after a compromise on a point that both the parties had lost an almost equal number of lives.

During local elections in 2005, one Ahmed Sher, the cousin of Muhammad Khan Joaieykhel, lost elections for the union council naib nazim, Muzaffarpur Shumali. Before elections, he had gone to the Sherikehl family, the alleged murderers of 1955 incident, and asked it to give votes in his favour.

The Sherikhel family imposed a condition to give two daughters in compensation of the crime committed by his elder Muhammad Nawaz for informing its rival group in 1955. Muhammad Khan, a close relative of the alleged informer, agreed to give his two minor daughters in ‘vani’.

Muhammad Khan married off his daughters Asia Bibi (5) to Muhammad Amir (18), son of Sher Muhammad Sherikhel, and Fauzia Bibi (6) to Islam (8). The marriage ceremony was held on Aug 6, 2005.

Neither the nikahs were registered nor were the girls handed over to their so-called husbands because of their tender ages.

On receiving information, Wan Bhachran police registered a case against 13 people under section 310-A (non-bailable) on Nov 22, 2005. The police arrested nine people, six from boys side and three from girls’, including Muhammad Amir (18), the ‘husband’ of Asia Bibi, his father Sher Muhammad, two punchayat members and prayer leader Moulvi Muhammad Rafique, son of Ahmed Yar, who solemnized nikahs.

Muhammad Khan, the father of minor girls, is a poacher and smuggler of hawks and has gone to Karachi while three other punchayat members are still at large.

Muhammad Nawaz (80), the uncle of Muhammad Khan, who was labelled as informer, said the matter was settled in 1960 and there was no reason for giving two minor daughters in ‘vani’ to the rival family.

Groom Muhammad Amir, with tears in his eyes, said that he was not aware of the consequences. While fathers of both the grooms are now ready for the divorce of girls.

Moulvi Rafique, who was handcuffed, said that father of girls Muhammad Khan had called him for the nikah which he performed according to Islamic laws.