Jirga members arrested for marrying off minor as vani

The Shinkiari Police have arrested three panchayat members including a nikkah registrar, suspected of marrying off a minor girl to a youth to settle an “honour dispute.” 

The police registered a case under Section 310, 130 and A/506/34 of PPC against 10 members of a panchayat on the compliant of father of the minor girl Nazir Alias Riaz, son Mian Gull.

Police quoted Nazir as saying that Riasat had alleged spotted photos of his wife Gulshan Bibi, in the cellphone of one Asif, brother of Nazir. From the picture, he had assumed that his wife and Asif had an affair. Riasat informed his father Jehanzaib and local notables about the alleged affair. They convened a Jirga (panchayat) led by Israel, son of Baga and attended by nine other people including Mian Khan, Mehboob, Hussain, Babu, Riaz, Jan Muhammad, Taj Muhammad, Jahanzeb, Wahid and Malik Amaan.

The panchayat decided that the accused will have to marry 6/7 year-old daughter of Nazir to Rizwan, son of Jahanzaib and pay Rs200,000 as fine to settle the issue. On the same day, the panchayat called local Nikkah registrar and allegedly solemnized Nikkah of the minor with Rizwan.

The panchayat also threatened the accused party of “throwing them out of the village” if they approach the police or divulge the issue to someone else.

The police have arrested Malik Aman, son of Ali Khan; Taj Muhammad, son of Khan Jee and Qari Muhammad Javed and launched hunt for other members of the Jirga.

According to Mansehra DPO Sadiq Baloch, special teams have been constituted to arrest all the other accused.