MIANWALI, January 19 2006: A case was registered against eight persons for their involvement in a vani incident in which an eight-year-old girl was given in marriage to a 35-year-old man at Chak 12-DB.

Reports said Muhammad Ramzan, father of four children, contracted second marriage with Allah Wasai, daughter of Allah Bakhsh, of Bhakkar six moths back, without the consent of the girl’s parents who threatened to kill the couple.

To calm down the aggrieved parents, some common friends of the two families brokered peace between them. It was decided to give away the eldest daughter of Ramzan to a brother of the eloped girl. A prayer leader, Muhammad Iqbal, of the same village, solemnized verbal (Shariat) nikah of the minor girl, Hussina Tahira (8), with Gul Jehan (35) fifteen days back.

Some insiders informed Harnoli police about the incident. The police have registered a case under section 310-A and 109 against eight persons, including the common friends of the families.

On the insistence of saner elements of the area, the police also forced the ‘groom’ to divorce his under-aged bride.
Source: Dawn
Date:1/19/2006