http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2012/10/2012109194135471514.html
Pakistan court probes bartering of girls
Supreme court takes notice of barter of 13 young girls under tribal
custom in Balochistan province.
Last Modified: 10 Oct 2012 03:37
Pakistan's supreme court has ordered authorities to investigate the alleged
barter of 13 children - all girls - to settle a blood feud in a remote area of
the southwestern Balochistan province.
Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry, the country's chief justice, began proceedings on
Tuesday, probing the alleged trade in the Dera Bugti district.
Saeed Faisal, the deputy commissioner for the district, told the court that a
tribal council had ordered the barter in early September.
Faisal said that he did not know the girls' ages, but local media reported that
they were aged between four and 13.
Amanullah Kanrani, the district's advocate-general, said that he could not
confirm the incident had taken place.
The court has summoned Tariq Masuri, the local provincial assembly legislator
who allegedly chaired the meeting that finalised the barter, to appear before
it on Wednesday. Masuri has denied those allegations.
The court has also called for the girls to be produced before it to record
their testimony.
Wani, the tradition of families exchanging unmarried girls to settle feuds, is
banned under Pakistani law but still practiced in the country's more
conservative and tribal areas.
Those found guilty of practicing are liable to up to seven years in prison and
a fine of $5,230 (Rs500,000).
Local media reported that in addition to the wani, the tribal meeting also
allegedly imposed a fine of Rs3 million, after discussing a dispute between two
tribes based on the murder of a local man.
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