MINGORA: An underage girl on Wednesday contacted the District Public Safety Commission of Swat for dissolution of her forced marriage and action against the members of a jirga, which had ordered the marriage last month under swara tradition to settle an honour-related dispute.
Nazia, 16-year-old resident of Bela Shahdehri area in Kabal tehsil, told Dawn that neighbour Khan Bacha had accused her uncle, Sardar Ali, of having illicit relations with his wife, Jan Bakht.
She said the matter was later taken to the local jirga, where her father, Habibur Rehman, uncle Latifur Rehman and members of Khan Bacha’s family, including Khalid Khan and Karah, and some other notables were in attendance.
The swara victim said the jirga ordered her marriage under a local tradition to settle the matter.
“I was forced into marriage with Sardar Hussain, a close relative of Khan Bacha,” she said.
Ms Nazia said her father first opposed the decision but later accepted it over threats to his life.
She said she was so upset by the jirga decision that she recently attempted to commit suicide.
“Now, my elder brother has returned from abroad and is along with uncle Abdul Mustaan is helping me fight for justice,” she said.
Sadiq, 20, a brother of the girl, said the family had filed an application with the District Public Safety Commission of Swat against all members of the jirga and members of Khan Bacha’s family over the illegal orders for marriage.
When contacted, district police officer of Swat Sher Akbar Khan said he had ordered the relevant police station to register an FIR against the accused and arrest them without delay.
