MIANWALI, Oct 13: A prompt action by Wan Bhacharn police foiled a vani attempt on Monday and saved a girl from being sacrificed for a crime committed by her elders. The police booked all the responsible for vani proceedings under Section 310-A and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and arrested them.

Anwar Bibi, a 19-year-old daughter of Haji Gul Muhammad Ghanjera, of Pacca Ghanjeranala, approached the police for refuge after being declared vani for a murder committed by her father and uncle.

She said that her father along with his brother Khan Muhammad had killed one of their relatives, Alam Khan Ghanjera, over a petty issue. Meanwhile, Alam Khan’s relatives killed her grandfather to settle the score.

To avoid further human loss, notables of the area effected a compromise between both the parties on April 12, 2007, and her father promised to give 173 kanals of agricultural land along with Rs900,000 in cash to the heirs of Alam Khan as a compensation. He also promised to marry his daughter as vani with a boy of rival party to fortify their relationship.

She said that her father forcibly got her thumb impressions on a nikahnama on Monday to honour his vani promise and gave her into marriage with Muhammad Aslam against her consent.

The police took a prompt action and arrested Nikahkhawan Maulvi Ghulam Muhammad, witnesses Fateh Sher and Haji Abdul Ghafoor, groom Muhammad Aslam and his father Alam Khan and bride’s father Gul Muhammad and registered a case against them under Sections 310-A and 109 of the PPC.

Talking to Dawn, DPO Malik Tassadaq Hayat said that as soon as he got information about the incident, he issued directives to the police to arrest the culprits and provide security to the girl.

He expressed his astonishment over the occurrence of such an incident, especially when the menace had almost been wiped out from this area.