Updated on
Summary The ill-fated girls' ages are reportedly from 4 to 16 years.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday took a suo motu notice against a jirga’s decision that had declared 13 girls ‘wani’ in Dera Bugti area of Balochistan, Dunya News reported.A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was hearing the Balochistan law and order case at SC’s Quetta registry.During case proceeding, the chief justice enquired from Dera Bugti Deputy Commissioner that whether any wani incident has taken place.Deputy Commissioner told the court that the incident occurred at Barakhan and he also came to know about the incident only yesterday.The chief justice in his remarks said, “We have seen many such cases in Sindh and one minister was found involved.”The apex court issued notice to Tariq Masoori, a member of Balochistan Assembly who allegedly chaired the jirga.The court laso issued directives to produce the girls before it on Wednesday.Reportedly the jirga chaired by Balochistan MPA was held during the second week of last month to resolve a dispute between two tribal groups.The jirga decided that 13 girls be given away in marriage to settle the dispute and a fine of Rs 3 million was also allegedly imposed.Wani is the custom of giving females in marriage by an offending party to the males of the victim party as consideration of compromising offences.It is worthy of mention that the Supreme Court had issued clear cut order to discourage illegal jirgas butthe tradition is still practiced in the countrys more conservative and tribal areas to settle feuds.On the other hand, MPATariq Masoori has refused participation in the Jirga.
