MIANWALI, Nov 26: Musakhel police lifted fathers of girls and boys for settling their murder case issue of 1990 through a cruel rite of ‘vani’. The detainees, lifted on the pressure of the print and electronic media, were later released after getting their statements recorded.

Musakhel Circle DSP Muhammad Iqbal Awan told reporters that he himself had visited houses of both the parties at Murmandi village, some 20 kilometres from here. He said that he recorded the statements of brides, grooms and their parents who were all happy with the union. However, no date of marriage had yet been fixed, he said.

Reports said that Muhammad Nawaz Khan, caste Azeem Khel of Marmandi, had been killed on suspicion of lifting goats in 1988. Musakhel police had arrested five accused — Khizer Hayat, Muhammad Zaman, Sultan Amir alias Bhachroo, Ali Khan and Amanullah. caste Mamdoo Khel. After a two-year trial, both the parties agreed for a compromise.

The alleged killers had agreed to pay Rs170,000 in cash and five girls in compensation. The nikah of all the five girls were solemnized. Two of the girls were handed over to the rival party while Asmat Bibi, daughter of Khizer Hayat; Tasleem Bibi, daughter of Mumtaz Khan; and Fauzia Bibi, daughter of Ghulam Akbar, were retained for being infants. Now these girls have grown up and their childhood husbands are piling pressure on their fathers to hand over their daughters to them.

It may be mentioned that the police have only recorded the statements of so-called husbands, their fathers and notables instead of the girls who are not willing to undergo a life-long imprisonment by living with their rivals.

Human Rights Commission district coordinator Khalilur Rehman and Karwan Community Development Organization director Ziaullah Khan said that girls were not willing to go to the houses of their rivals while their fathers were not in a position to refuse. They claim that statements of girls should be recorded by women.

According to the tribal laws, violator in a ‘vani’ case has to face consequences which is no less than a death sentence.