MINGORA: Five girls, including two minors, were given in Swara in Kalam and Matta tehsils of Swat district, official and local sources said on Tuesday.
The sources said that one Farzana had contracted love marriage with Laiqzada in Bazkhela locality in the Matta Tehsil.
A Jirga was held to settle the dispute between the two families which decided that six-year-old sister of Laiqzada would be married off to Farzana’s brother Habibullah, son of Mohammad Iqbal.
The police moved into action and registered a case against six persons, including Maulana Fazal Jamil, who had solemnised the marriage, Habibullah, Sherzada, Muhammad Iqbal, Sulaiman and Salar. Maulana Fazal Jamil and Habibullah were arrested while four persons escaped. Raids were being conducted to nab the other accused.
Another four girls, including a minor, were given in Swara for settling two honour-related disputes in the Kalam Tehsil. The decisions were made by two separate Jirgas held near the Kalam Bazaar. The members of the first Jirga decided to give in Swara Farazia, daughter of Khan Gul, to Mohammad Sadiq, son of Abdul Khaliq. The 10-year-old granddaughter of Khan was given in Swara to grandson of Abdul Khaliq. The Kirga also imposed a fine of Rs200,000 on Khan Gul.
In another case, a youth, son of Jalandar Shah, contracted love marriage with Shazia, daughter of Abdul Malik.A jirga was held to decide the dispute. The members of the jirga decided to give as Swara the 22-year-old daughter of Jalandar Shah to son of Abdul Malik. It also decided to give in Swara the granddaughter of Jalandar Shah to any other male family member of Abdul Malik. The jirga also imposed a fine of Rs350,000 on Jalandar Shah.
Meanwhile, Swat District Police Officer Sher Akbar Khan ordered a probe into the incident and directed the cops to arrest all those involved in the crime.It may be mentioned here that Swara is a customary practice in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Afghanistan under which young girls are married off to members of rival families to resolve the feuds. The custom is also prevalent in other province of Pakistan but with different nomenclatures.
