MOTHER SEEKS RECOVERY OF ‘VANI GIRL’

Lahore: On Tuesday, Lahore High Court Complaint Cell took notice of a press report on administrative side that a woman sought recovery of her 12-year-old daughter who was married to a 30-year-old man under the direction of a panchayat.

The Cell has directed the District & Sessions Judge, Faisalabad to look into the matter and submit a detailed report regarding steps taken by police along with his own comments within a week.

According to details, a seven-member jury held at Chak Bagu Da Koh, Tandlianwala, had reportedly taken up the issue of Azhar’s love marriage with Mafia Bibi of the same village. It decided to “vani” Naziran Bibi (12), a sister of Azhar to Ramzan (30) of the same locality to ‘compensate’ the aggrieved party for the ‘dishonor’. Accordingly, the nikkah of the minor girl was solemnized with Ramzan. Rani Bibi, mother of the victim, told reporters that since the forced Nikah, she had been kept by the ‘abductors’ at an undisclosed location and she was not being allowed to meet her parents.

She alleged the police were aware of the episode but it was reluctant to act against the influential jury members Khadim, Zulfiqar, Amin, Iftikhar and their three accomplices. She also alleged that the police subjected her to torture when she insisted on recovery of her minor daughter. According to press report, police was investigating the matter, girl would be kept in Darul Aman after recovery and her age would be determined. Besides, statement of Rani Bibi would also be registered.