DERA ISMAIL KHAN: The body of Adil Hajam, the father of the 11-year-old girl who was a victim of the Vani custom, was exhumed on Friday to collect samples for further investigation.

According to spokesman for the police Syed Yaqoob Bukhari, the exhumation was carried out under the supervision of judicial magistrate Abdullah Qazi to ascertain the facts surrounding Adil’s suicide.

Adil took his own life in Bagwani Shumali area of Paharpur tehsil after a panchayat (village council) declared his young daughter Vani in line with the custom of forced marriage to settle a dispute.

The medical team, in the presence of judicial magistrate Abdullah Qazi and Paharpur ASP, collected body samples for forensic examination. Officials of the health department, TMA, Rescue 1122 and police, and Adil’s family members were also present. The police’s spokesperson said seven out of eight suspects in the case had been arrested, while raids were being conducted to apprehend the remaining one.

Also, the police seized Rs300,000 from the detainees and handed it over to Adil’s children. They expected more recovery. The panchayat had initially imposed a fine of Rs600,000 on the Vani victim’s family, which it paid. However, the Vani decision has yet to be implemented.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2025