Jirga marries off minor girl to 80-year-old man in Rahim Yar Khan

RAHIM YAR KHAN: Yet another minor girl fell victim to the barbaric practice of ‘vani’ when a jirga ordered to marry off a 10-year-old to an 80-year-old man in Rahim Yar Khan.

The decision was taken to 'punish' the girl's grandfather, Hanif, who chose to enter into a love marriage with a woman three years ago, angering the elders of the family. The jirga, as a result, decided to compensate for the ‘love marriage’ by declaring ‘vani’ for the minor girl.

According to the girl’s father Ashraf Khokhar, the members of the jirga are pressuring him to conduct ‘rukhsati’ of his daughter with the 80-year-old man. Upon his refusal to do so, the jirga members have threatened to abduct his daughter.

The father said he has requested the police to intervene but they have yet to take any action. The police, on the other hand, said they have received the request and are looking into the matter.

The condemnable practice of ‘vani’, which involves a young girl being forcibly married off as part of punishment for a crime committed by her male relatives, is frequent in some parts of the country. Unlike common wedding events, the ceremonies held under ‘vani’ are devoid of the celebrations.

Earlier this year, in a similar incident, a jirga in Sadiqabad, Rahim Yar Khan married off an eight-year-old girl to a 28-year-old man as 'punishment' for the girl's paternal uncle, who chose to opt for a love marriage and triggered the wrath of the family’s elders.