DADU, March 1: A teenaged girl of the Johi town has alleged she is being pressured to marry Zulfiqar Panhwar and on her refusal, Zulfiqar, his relatives and local landlords are threatening her with dire consequences.

Talking to journalists here on Monday, the 14-year-old girl, Tahira Panhwar, a student of class IX, accompanied by her mother, Haleema, said she did not want to marry the man.

She said as her parents were poor, Zulfiqar and his relatives were forcing her through criminals and landlords for the marriage. She said some landlords were issuing threats to her that if she did not marry Zulfiqar, she would be kidnapped and forcibly married to him.

The girl said she had appealed to the DPO, operation, Ali Akbar Bhangwar, for protection and justice but no action had been taken against the accused. She said now a Jirga was being called to decide her fate. She feared that the Jirga verdict would be against her will. She threatened to commit suicide.

Ms Tahira appealed to human rights organizations to help her. Her mother said they had been appealing to the district administration for help but no official was ready to meet them and provide them with protection.

She said she and her daughter had left their house after they received the threats, adding that now they had no safe place to live in. DPO Ali Akbar Bhangwar has constituted a team, headed by the DSP headquarters, Mohammad Rajab Lashari, to investigate the matter.

Meanwhile, Sindh Samaji Tanzim general-secretary Farooq Ahmad Leghari feared that the girl might be killed or forced to marry after the Jirga decision.

ROBBERY: Eight armed men blocked the main Fareedabad-Mehar road on Sunday night and deprived passengers of thousands of rupees and gold ornaments.