Chitral -- Cold blooded murder of a young groom two years ago, during which the bride made a narrow escape, dominated proceedings of a seminar held here today under the auspices of a Chitral based human rights organization to create awareness about women rights. According to details few years ago a local girl was forcibly engaged to a boy from Arandu. When all the protestations of the girl fell on deaf years, she decided to elope with a local boy and married him. Both were adult and the marriage was legally correct. but the boy from Arandu, driven by his cultural constraints could not stomach it and decided to take revenge saying that in his culture engagement was as good as marriage and he was not concerned what religion says about it. One dark night he, with the help of few friends and relatives, attacked the couple in their house and killed the boy and escaped to Afghanistan. Now with Pakistani and coalition forces closing in, he has no option but to seek conciliation with the victim's family.

A jirga from Arandu visited Garam Chashma, the other day and met local leaders. The slain boy's father, already terrorized, agreed to compromise with some persuasion and forgave the murderer, although the culprit has not surrendered to police as yet. Interestingly state, being the primary party has not been taken into confidence. Any compounding of the case is not possible without completing the trial and approval of the court.. The crime is not only heinous but also violates basic human rights given in Islam, constitution and universal declaration of human rights. Speakers at the seminar were wondering why human rights organizations were not taking notice of such cases. Mere rising of awareness without legal aid and action on ground would prove counter-productive.

Two other cases worthy of notice also figured in the seminar. In one case a boy and a girl professing different creeds eloped and married but soon under pressure the girl reneged resulting in arrest of the boy. Subsequently the girl was married off to another boy without getting her divorced from her first husband. In the other case an under-age girl eloped and was allowed to marry. No FIR was lodged for violating Family Law Ordinance which prohibits under-age marriages. The sectarian milieu further compounds the situation and militates against the rule of law. Different sects consider it their religious duty to convert others through marriage and thus earn place in paradise. In Islamic cosmology only the Holy Prophet had given the Basharat of Paradise to his Sahaba. If today some one does so, should it not amount to blasphemy or Shirk?The argument that marriage among Ahle Kitab is justified, does not find favor with some Muslims and they insist on the newly wed to abuse their former creed before being allowed in the new one. This bigotry unnecessarily vitiates the otherwise peaceful sectarian situation in Chitral where inter-sect marriages were common until 1980s when religious zealotry was unleashed by General Zia ul Haq. Government intervention to uphold rule of law is no where to be seen. If there is no collusion, government should be seen to be acting to enforce the law, otherwise we would continue to suffer in the hands of bigots in all sects.

Group work done during the seminar, especially the one done by girls, was an eye opener. Their plight narrated in the report sent tears down the cheeks of many. The increasing divorce and suicide rates among girls, arising out of unwanted marriage and unilateral divorces were quoted as examples of women rights violations. One speaker stated that in 99% cases alimony is not paid to girls and marriage is consummated without first paying alimony which was illegal, immoral and against religion. The view that husbands do spend money during marriage ceremonies can be taken as alimony is a contradiction in terms, because in Nikah Nama this is never reflected. Had it been part of alimony, it would have been carried in marriage documents. So let us accept that even in this case women rights are ignored. The right in inheritance allowed to women in Islam is observed more in breach. She has no home of her own and has to live either in husband's or father's house. Sind treats her with Karo Kari, marriage with Quran, Punjab with Wata Satta, Baluchistan with Valvar, KPK with Swara and Chitral with Mal. All these amount to selling her as chattel rather than respecting her as human beings and children of Eve and Adam.

One can only hope that NGOs do not confine themselves to raising awareness alone. Instead women need capacity building, ownership and legal assistance to create deterrence in favor of their rights. Mere activities and incurring expenditures at the cost of generous donors will take us no where. We need women participation for meaningful development and narrow minded people should not be allowed to hijack our future.  -- Islamuddin, Garam Chashma, 13 June 2011.

Comment:

We really appreciate the good thoughts of Mr Islamuddin. We condemn lawlessness, corruption in our country. We also want to conduct seminars in different parts of Chitral to educate the local people so that we can finish sectarianism and an environment of peace should be initiated with a new zeal. We should follow the rules of Ex-Prime Minister Mr Mahatir Mohammad regarding religious activities. There should be freedom to choose your counterpart, and there should be no rejection if the boy and the girl agree to marry each other. It is also allowed in Islam. We the young youth of Chitral request Mr Islamuddin to conduct seminars in the far flung areas of Arkari, Garum Chashma, Karim Abad etc. It will really help the people to follow the right path of Islam. -- Fardad Ali Shah, Sanik., (student) Karachi University, 18 June 2011..
 

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