MIANWALI, May 21: Mianwali police have rescued a 12-year-old girl who was to be married to a 35-year-old man as vani or match for crime. Eight years ago, Muhammad Ramzan of Chak No 20/DB married her cousin Waziran Bibi. After some time, the couple developed differences and Ramzan divorced Waziran. Later, he married Sarwar but this marriage also failed. Four years ago, Ramzan revived his relations with Waziran and abducts her and had second Nikah with her which was un-Islamic. This act angered the family of Waziran and they announced they would kill Ramzan.

An elder of the area, Sardar Khan Arori Khel of Chak 27/DB, settled an agreement between the two warring families and under the settlement, the brother of Muhammad Ramzan had to give the hand her eight-year-old daughter Perveen as vani to Muhammad Aslam, brother of Waziran. The prayer leader of the village mosque solemnised Nikah of Aslam and Perveen.

After four years, on attaining adolescence, Perveen refused to become a scapegoat and revolted against the elders’ decision. Her spouse Muhammad Aslam (35) is the father three.

Perveen wrote to the DPO about her ordeal and at this the DPO directed the station house officer (SHO) of Harnoli police station to look into the matter. The SHO rounded up the elders of the warring families and urged them to resolve the issue. Following his efforts, Aslam divorced Perveen. He said when his Nikah took place four years ago, there existed no law against vani.